Question

Man made radio active element Sr${}^{90}$ accumulates in the body through

• A. Air
• B. Food web
• C. Water
• D. Contaminated soil

Answer 1

The correct option is B Food web

Strontium-90 is found nearly everywhere in small amounts from past nuclear accidents and fallout from nuclear explosions. You can be exposed to low levels of Sr-90 by eating food, drinking water, or accidentally eating soil or dust, that contains Sr-90. Food and drinking water are the largest sources of exposure to Sr-90. Because of the nature of Sr-90, some of it gets into fish, vegetables, and livestock. Grain, leafy vegetables, and dairy products contribute the greatest percentage of dietary Sr-90 to humans. Everyone is exposed to small amounts of strontium-90, since it is widely dispersed in the environment and the food chain.

Strontium-90 is chemically similar to calcium, and tends to deposit in bone and bone marrow. Thus, strontium-90 is referred to as a "bone seeker." Internal exposure to Sr-90 is linked to bone cancer, cancer of the soft tissue near the bone, and leukemia.