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Science 13 September 1957:
Vol. 126. no. 3272, pp. 485 - 492
DOI: 10.1126/science.126.3272.485
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Articles

Strontium-Calcium Movement from Soil to Man

C. L. Comar 1, R. Scott Russell 2, and R. H. Wasserman 1

1 Medical division, Oak Ridge Institute of Nuclear Studies, Oak Ridge, Tenn., under contract with the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission;
2 Department of agriculture, University of Oxford, Oxford, England, and the Agricultural Research Council Radiobiological Laboratory, Compton, Berkshire.

The calcium reservoirs of the biosphere are becoming labeled to varying degrees with strontium-90 from nuclear weapons. These reservoirs include the human and animal skeleton, the milk, the vegetation, the upper layers of soil, and the waters. The degree of labeling is governed by the dilution that occurs, or the differential behavior of calcium and strontium in various steps of the food chain. This differential behavior normally provides a factor of protection against strontium-90 in the soil and vegetation that may be as high as 25 for the newborn and is most likely not less than 6 for adults, depending on food habits.

The physiological steps that are important in the movement of the two elements in the biosphere are described to provide a basis for an approach toward increase of the discrimination against strontium in favor of calcium. Some aspects of agricultural practices are discussed from this standpoint. The matter of hazard from levels now existing and the present need to undertake remedial measures are not discussed, in major part because of lack of experimental data on which to base such considerations.


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Isotopic Evidence for Mobility and Group Organization Among Neolithic Farmers At Talheim, Germany, 5000 BC.
T. D. Price, J. Wahl, and R. A. Bentley (2006)
European Journal of Archaeology 9, 259-284
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RADIOACTIVITY IN FOODS.
C. L. Comar (1959)
JAMA 171, 1221-1223
   Abstract »    PDF »
Deposition of Strontium-90 through October 1958: The global deposition of strontium-90 is discussed in relation to the absorption of the isotope by man.
M. Eisenbud (1959)
Science 130, 76-80
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Distribution of Radioactivity in Wheat Plants Grown in the Presence of Strontium-90.
C. C. LEE (1959)
Science 129, 1280
   Abstract »    PDF »
Effect of Calcium on Deposition of Strontium-90 and Calcium-45 in Rats.
R. F. PALMER, R. C. THOMPSON, and H. A. KORNBERG (1958)
Science 127, 1505-1506
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