Strontium radioactive isotope

Among the honey types studied, honeydew honey exhibited the best indicator capabilities of all of the elements and radionuclides. By comparison with the aforementioned types of honey, the transfer of Cs and Rb into honeydew honey was an order of magnitude higher, with transfers of 8.56 and 1.50 percent, respectively. Transfers for (21.1 percent), Pb (5.42 percent), Cu (3.85 percent), Ca (2.48 percent), Cr (1.34 percent), and Ni (<0.960) nearly equalled or exceeded 1 percent. On the other hand, the soil macroelement Fe showed a very low transfer (0.039 percent) from soils into honeydew honey. Strontium showed a similar behavior (<0.042 percent), so it seems that honey could not be used very successfully as an indicator of environmental pollution with strontium radioactive isotopes. The results show that samples of honey, especially honeydew honey, can indicate the consequences of global pollution events as well as events on a local scale. 

Properties. Strontium is a hard white metal having physical properties shown in Table 1. It has four stable isotopes, atomic weights 84, 86, 87, and 88 and one radioactive isotope, strontium-90 [10098-97-2] which is a product of nuclear fission. The most abundant isotope is strontium-88. 

The radiation hazard associated with fallout from nuclear weapons testing arises from radioactive isotopes such as these. One of the most dangerous is strontium-90. In the form of strontium carbonate, SrC03, it is incorporated into the bones of animals and human beings, where it remains far a lifetime. 

Strontium. Sr at no 38 at wt 87.62 valence 2 two important radioactive isotopes (out of 12), Sr-89 and Sr-90 four stable isotopes, 88 (82.56% abundance), 86 (9.86% abundance), 87 (7.02% abundance), 84 (0.56% abundance) silvery-white metal, face-centered cubic structure brief exposure to air results in the yel oxide mp 752°, 757°, 769° (separate values) bp 1366°, 1384°, 1390° (separate values) d 2.6g/cc. Sol in acids, ethanol and liq ammonia. CA Registry No [7440-24-6]. Occurs in nature as the sulfate celestine or the carbonate strontianite also found in small quantities associated with Ba, Ca, Pb or K minerals. Prepn is by a) electrolysis of molten Sr chloride in a graphite crucible with cooling of the upper cathodic space to isolate the Sr vapors, or b) thermal redd of the oxide... 

Strontium-90 is a radioactive isotope that was created by atomic weapons testing during World War II. The half-life of strontium-90 is 28.8 years. The first atomic weapons test took place in New Mexico on July 16,... 

Radioactive waste from certain nuclear power plants and from weapons testing can lead to health problems. For example, ions of the radioactive isotope strontium-90, an alkali metal, exhibit chemical behaviour similar to calcium ions. This leads to incorporation of the ions in bone tissue, sending ionizing radiation into bone marrow, and possibly causing leukemia. Given the following equation for the decay of strontium-90, how would you complete it ... 

In 1963, a treaty was signed by the US, UK, and USSR to ban the atmospheric testing of atomic weapons. Previous testing of atomic weapons had added radioactive isotopes of strontium (Sr-90) and cesium (Cs-137) to the atmosphere. Eventually, these pollutants fell to the ground and may have entered the food chain. 

Major concern about rapidly increasing levels of radioactive fallout in the environment and in foods developed as a result of the extensive testing of nuclear weapons by the United States and the Soviet Union in the 1950s. Nuclear fission generates more than 200 radioisotopes of some 60 different elements. Many of these radioisotopes are harmful to humans because they may be incorporated into body tissues. Several of these radioactive isotopes are absorbed efficiently by the organism because they are related chemically to important nutrients for example, strontium-90 is related to calcium and cesium-137 to potassium. These radioactive elements are produced by the following nuclear reactions, in which the half-life is given in parentheses ... 

In the 1950s and 1960s, several nations conducted tests of nuclear warheads in the atmosphere. It was customary, following each test, to monitor the concentration of strontium-90 (a radioactive isotope of strontium) in milk. Why would strontium-90 tend to accumulate in milk ... 

One of the major uses of strontium has been in the production of color cathode ray tubes (CRTs) used in televisions and computer monitors. However, changes in electronics technology and the popularity of flat-panel screens (which use far less or even no strontium) have led to decreased strontium demand for this purpose in the United States and Europe. However, strontium is also used in the manufacture of ceramics and specialty glass. One of its radioactive isotopes is used in industry and medical studies. 

Twenty-seven radioactive isotopes of strontium with measured half lives are known also. A radioactive isotope is one that breaks apart and gives off some form of radiation. Radioactive isotopes are produced when very small particles are fired at atoms. These particles stick in the atoms and make them radioactive. 

One radioactive isotope of strontium, strontium-90, is of special interest. It is a toxic substance, which, at one time, was the cause of great concern because of its connection to atomic bomb testing. 

One radioactive isotope of yttrium, yttrium-90, has some important practical applications. The isotope is combined with other substances to produce smart drugs. Smart drugs are drugs that detect, attack, and destroy only certain, very specific kinds of cells, such as those found in cancerous tissue. One advantage of using yttrium-90 is that it is easy to obtain. It is produced when another radioactive isotope (strontium-90) breaks down. Strontium-90 is a by-product of nuclear reactions that occur in nuclear power plants. 

Strontium can also exist as several radioactive isotopes, the most common is °Sr. Strontium-90 is formed in nuclear reactors or during the explosion of nuclear weapons. Radioactive strontium generates beta particles as they decay. One of the radioactive properties of strontium is half-life, or the time it takes for half of the isotope to give off its radiation. 

Strontium is a naturally occurring element found in rocks, soil, dust, coal, and oil. Naturally occurring strontium is not radioactive and is referred to as stable strontium. Stable strontium in the environment exists in four stable isotopes, " Sr (read as strontium 84), Sr, Sr, and Sr. Twelve other unstable isotopes are known to exist. Its radioactive isotopes are Sr and °Sr. Strontium is chemically similar to calcium. It was discovered in 1790. The isotope Sr is a highly radioactive poison, and was present in fallout from atmospheric nuclear explosions and is created in nuclear reactors. Atmospheric tests of nuclear weapons in the 1950s resulted in deposits and contaminations. °Sr has a half-life of 28 years and is a high-energy beta emitter. Its common cationic salts are water soluble it forms chelates with compounds such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid strontium coordination compounds are not common. Powdered metallic strontium may constitute an explosion hazard when exposed to flame. 

Its inherent toxicity and that of its compounds resembles that of calcium. The state of calcium nutrition of exposed individuals is a major determinant of toxicity. The radioactive isotope, when ingested or inhaled, is processed by the body and resides in bones. Strontium ionizes molecules in the body by the emission of beta particles. It increases the risk of cancer. 

Fission reactors produce of kilograms quantities of highly radioactive cesium 137, iodine 131, and strontium 90. Tons of uranium and plutonium are also present in a fission reactor. If released in an accident these radioactive isotopes can be absorbed by the body and retained for some length of time. The fusion reactions do not use or produce any of these toxic elements. 

Strontium is a less well-known element of Group 2, but it s important, nevertheless. Because of its chemical similarity to calcium, strontium can replace calcium in the hydroxyapatite of bones and form Sr5(P04)30H. This could be a problem only if the strontium atoms are the radioactive isotope strontium-90, which is hazardous if it is incorporated into a person s bones. 

Strontium is an alkaline earth element in Group IIA of the periodic table. Because of its high reactivity, elemental (or metallic) strontium is not found in nature it exists only as molecular compounds with other elements. The chemical information for elemental strontium and some of its compounds is listed in Table 4-1. Radioactive isotopes of strontium (e g., 89Sr and 90Sr, see Section 4.2) are the primary cause of concern with regard to human health (see Chapter 3). 

Analytical methods for measuring strontium in environmental samples are summarized in Table 7-2. The available methods can be divided into two groups chemical methods to determine the total mass of strontium in a sample, and radiological methods to determine amounts of radioactive isotopes. Environmental media that have been tested for strontium include air filters, swipes, biota, water, soil, and others. A full range of laboratory analysis methods has been used to quantify the total strontium or its radioactive isotopes. 

Under natural conditions, neither element has any biological importance. In some cases, however, strontium can be of concern in regards to human health. Strontium is perhaps best known for its radioactive isotope Sr-90, which possesses a half-life of 26 years. Strontium 90 is... 

The chemical properties of calcium and strontium provide an interesting example of periodic group similarity. Strontium-90, a radioactive isotope, is a major product of an atomic bomb explosion. If an atomic bomb is exploded in the atmosphere, the strontium-90 formed will eventually settle on land and water, and it will reach our bodies via a relatively short food chain. For example, if cows eat contaminated grass and drink contaminated water, they will pass along strontium-90 in their milk. Because calcium and strontium are chemically similar, Sr ions can replace Ca ions in our bones. Constant exposure of the body to the high-energy radiation emitted by the strontium-90 isotopes can lead to anemia, leukemia, and other chronic illnesses. 

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