strontium-90
Bone-seeking nuclear fallout
Strontium-90 is a radioactive isotope produced by nuclear fission, particularly in nuclear weapons testing and reactor accidents.
Because it chemically resembles calcium, the body absorbs it into bones and teeth, where it can cause cancer.
Strontium-90 became a symbol of nuclear fallout danger during the Cold War, when it contaminated milk supplies worldwide.
fallout
Radioactive fission byproduct
- ChernobylSoviet nuclear disaster site
- FukushimaJapanese nuclear accident site
- downwinderOne exposed to nuclear drift
- iodine-131Radioactive halogen isotope
isotope
Period for fifty-percent reduction
- radioisotopeUnstable atomic nucleus variant
- nucleonProton or neutron
- curieUnit of radioactive decay
- disintegrationProcess of breaking apart
bone-seeker
Malignancy of blood-forming tissues
- osteosarcomaMalignant bone tumor
- bioaccumulationPollutant concentration in tissues
- teethEnamel-covered chewing structures
- retentionContinued holding or possession
remediation
Water in underground rock
- decontaminationRemoving dangerous substances
- cleanupRestoration of order
- ion-exchangeCharged particle substitution process
- chelationChemical metal-ion capture
detection
Exposure measurement device
- scintillationRapid light variation
- radiochemistryScience of unstable isotopes
- bioassayTest using living tissue
cesium-137
Radioactive fission byproduct
- ChernobylSoviet nuclear disaster site
- FukushimaJapanese nuclear accident site
- downwinderOne exposed to nuclear drift
half-life
Period for fifty-percent reduction
- radioisotopeUnstable atomic nucleus variant
- nucleonProton or neutron
- curieUnit of radioactive decay
leukemia
Malignancy of blood-forming tissues
- osteosarcomaMalignant bone tumor
- bioaccumulationPollutant concentration in tissues
- teethEnamel-covered chewing structures
groundwater
Water in underground rock
- decontaminationRemoving dangerous substances
- cleanupRestoration of order
- ion-exchangeCharged particle substitution process
dosimeter
Exposure measurement device
- scintillationRapid light variation
- radiochemistryScience of unstable isotopes
- bioassayTest using living tissue
- ChernobylPripyat, exclusion zone, meltdown, nuclear disaster, explosion
- Nuclear Falloutfallout, radioactive dust, fallout zone, fallout shelter, contamination zone
- nuclear radiationradiation exposure, radiation poisoning, radioactive isotopes, fallout, nuclear meltdown
- radiation sourcessun, uranium, plutonium, radium, radon
- radioactivityradioactive decay, radioactive isotopes, radioisotopes, radionuclides, half-life
- Hanford SiteManhattan Project, nuclear waste, radioactive waste, tank farms, downwinders