strontium 90
Definition
- Noun:
- A radioactive isotope of strontium: A specific, unstable form of the element strontium, identified by its mass number (90 protons and neutrons combined). It is a significant component of radioactive fallout from nuclear explosions and is biologically hazardous because the body can mistake it for calcium and incorporate it into bone tissue.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Strontium 90 is a dangerous byproduct of nuclear fission.
- The study measured levels of strontium 90 in the soil decades after the atmospheric tests.
- Due to its long half-life, strontium 90 in the environment remains a concern for public health.
Advanced Usage
- Scientific Context: The term is used precisely in nuclear physics, environmental science, and health physics to discuss contamination, dose assessment, and radioactive decay chains.
- The biogeochemical pathway of strontium 90 from fallout to the human food chain is well documented.
Variants and Related Words
- Strontium (n): The stable, non-radioactive chemical element (Sr).
- Isotope (n): A form of an element with the same number of protons but a different number of neutrons.
- Fallout (n): Radioactive particles dispersed into the atmosphere after a nuclear explosion.
Synonyms
- Radioactive strontium: A more general descriptive term.
- Sr-90: The common scientific abbreviation.
Related Phrases
- Assimilation into bone: The key biological process that defines the primary health risk of this isotope.
- Fallout constituent: Describes its origin and environmental presence.
Noun
-
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
