Strontium 90 (Noun)
Meaning
A radioactive isotope of strontium (with the mass number 90) that is present in the fallout from nuclear explosions; can be assimilated like calcium into bones.
Classification
Nouns denoting substances.
Examples
- Strontium-90 was detected in the milk and bone tissue of people who lived near the nuclear test site after the experimental bombs were detonated.
- Exposure to strontium-90 over an extended period increased the risk of bone cancer and leukemia in the affected population.
- Radioactive strontium-90 was dispersed widely after the nuclear disaster and settled on the nearby agricultural lands.
- The high levels of strontium-90 contamination in the environment have posed serious health threats to humans and wildlife since the beginning of nuclear testing.
- Studies have shown that ingesting small amounts of strontium-90 increases the risk of bone cancer, as the radioactive isotope can accumulate in bone tissue over time.