NUCLEAR FALLOUT/ CATTLE MUTILATIONS/ UFOS

During the 1950’s the United States set off many nuclear explosions at the Nevada Test Site, northwest of Las Vegas, Nevada. Most of the United States east of Nevada received radioactive fallout from these tests. The heaviest concentration of fallout came down in Utah, Wyoming, Montana, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, and Minnesota.

One of the most hazardous radionuclides formed in a nuclear explosion is strontium 90. When strontium 90 (Sr90) is deposited on the ground it enters the soil and is assimilated by the plants because of its similarity to calcium.

See the document: Radiostrontium Fallout: Project Sunshine, Atomic Weapon Report, July 1956, Wash. 406, by W.F. Libby, for further details.

In addition, plants gain considerable fraction of the precipitated radiostrontium by assimilation from the surface of the leaves.

Cattle and sheep and any other grazing animals that eat the grass and other herbage in the states that received the high amount of radioactive fallout would assimilate the fallout directly at fairly high levels. After time passes the plants would assimilate the strontium 90 from the soil only as the fallout on the leaves would be blown or washed off by the weather conditions.

Strontium 90 being chemically similar to calcium would be deposited in the skeleton and the bone marrow of the cattle and the sheep. Internal exposure to the radioactivity of the strontium is linked to bone cancer, cancer of the soft tissue near the bone, and leukemia. See the EPA Strontium report in the Bibliography below.

To study the effects of the nuclear weapons tests and strontium 90 the Atomic Energy Commission and the Rand Corporation initiated a study called Project Sunshine in 1953. This was to study the distribution of strontium 90 and assay the hazards.

Project Sunshine performed analyses of soils, gummed paper fallout samples, air filter samples, animal bodies, milk and cheese, and human bodies to deduce a mechanism for the dissemination of Strontium 90 over the world’s surface and into the biosphere.

See Radiostrontium Fallout: Project Sunshine, Atomic Weapon Report, July 1956, Wash. 406, Abstract, by W.F. Libby.

As early as the fall of 1953 a conclusion was reached by Project Sunshine. It stated, “The bone-retentive and radioactive properties of Sr90 endow it with a high carcinogenic capability; a given amount above threshold (which may be zero) fixed in the bone will cause a certain percentage of the population to die of bone cancer comparable with that observed in victims of radium poisoning.”

One interesting point to be made here is that the Atomic Energy Commission would set what was called a Maximum Permissible Concentration (MPC) when it came to how much exposure the public and the military could be exposed to when it came to radioactive fallout from the nuclear weapons tests. How could a permissible level be set when the threshold for strontium 90 is possibly zero? This was done for convenience so the nuclear testing could go on and be proclaimed safe to the public, the military and the animals.

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The sampling program of Project Sunshine was done under strict secrecy. This was pointed out in the document: RAND SUNSHINE PROJECT CONFERENCE DECEMBER 16, 17, 18, 1953 SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA.

Under the section IV, The Future Sampling Program, it states, “It is not clear that it is necessary to tell them about the assay obtained, how radioactive people actually are or how serious the dangerous is. On page 11 of the same report it says, “It seems clear that the dissemination of radioactivity over the whole world can be measured in a number of ways, but since the time is short and the secrecy conditions or restrictions are such to prevent any use of any admission of the real purpose of the program, some conferees agreed that the Chicago SUNSHINE PROJECT should proceed to institute a world-wide rain sampling program for next March, April, May, June and July using the project now in existence at the University, on the ‘Occurrence of Tritium in Nature’ as a cover operation.

The institution of the rain sampling program called for by the Conference would coincide with the thermonuclear bomb tests scheduled for March through May 1954, at the Marshall Islands, called Operation Castle, which would send radioactive fallout around the entire world.

Fallout from Operation Castle would give the west-central United States another large dose of radioactivity and with that more strontium 90. To see this fallout see Figure 3.1 TOTAL FALLOUT FROM CASTLE SERIES AS OF JULY 1, 1954, PACIFIC HEMISPHERE, on page 23 of 231 in sequence from the document: WORLD-WIDE FALLOUT FROM OPERATION CASTLE.

The highest readings received in the United States from Operation Castle were in the west-central states, the same areas which had already received significant fallout from the nuclear tests in Nevada in 1951 (two series of tests), the spring of 1952, and the spring of 1953.

During the Rand Sunshine Project Conference of December 1953, it was recommended for the sampling program that more use should be made of animal bones, particularly calf bones. See page 13 of 37 in sequence of: RAND SUNSHINE PROJECT CONFERENCE DECEMBER 16, 17, 18, 1953 SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA.

By 1956 it was learned that the ratio of strontium 90 to calcium in the bones of grazing animals, such as cattle and sheep, ran higher in many instances, rising 20 or 30 times those in humans, presumably due to local conditions of low calcium content of the soil and the fact that these animals eat grass and thus assimilate the fallout directly. See: Radiostrontium Fallout: Project Sunshine, Atomic Weapon Report, July 1956, Wash. 406, by W.F. Libby.

The large yield megaton weapons tests deposited a large fraction of their radioactive products in the stratosphere. Over the years a slow leakage of radioactive particulate matter from the stratosphere occurs and dissemination is world-wide. The average storage time in the stratosphere appears to be about 10 years. See: Radiostrontium Fallout: Project Sunshine, Atomic Weapon Report, July 1956, Wash. 406, by W.F. Libby.

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The total strontium 90 put in the stratosphere as of 1956 amounted to some 12 millicuries (mc) of strontium 90 per square mile, if the activity were spread uniformly over the earth’s surface. This is not the case for the deposits are not uniform. There is a tendency for deposits to peak at equatorial latitudes.

As of 1956, in the United States the average total deposit appeared to be about 13 millicuries of strontium 90 per square mile, the increase being due to the Nevada tests. See: Radiostrontium Fallout: Project Sunshine, Atomic Weapon Report, July 1956, Wash. 406, by W.F. Libby.

Project Sunshine determined that the fallout from Operation Castle and the strontium 90 associated with that fallout will reach maximum soil activity in about 1970. This, of course, should be reflected in higher strontium 90 contents for the bones of grazing animals. See: Radiostrontium Fallout: Project Sunshine, Atomic Weapon Report, July 1956, Wash. 406, by W.F. Libby.

More radioactive fallout was deposited in the west-central United States from nuclear tests at the Nevada Test Site in the spring of 1955 (Operation Teapot), and from May to October 1957 (Operation Plumbbob). This fallout came down in various places over the whole US but the most intense fallout was again in the west-central states. It can be assumed that the west-central United States received some of the highest concentration of nuclear fallout of anywhere in the world. It is shown that heavy amounts of fallout came from Operation Castle and was deposited in the west-central states. See: Figure 3.1 TOTAL FALLOUT FROM CASTLE SERIES AS OF JULY 1, 1954, PACIFIC HEMISPHERE, on page 23 of 231 in sequence from the document: WORLD-WIDE FALLOUT FROM OPERATION CASTLE. Thus this area must have a high concentration of strontium 90 in the soil, with a high activity of strontium 90 being reached in 1970.

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THE CATTLE MUTILATIONS

In the files of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) there is this article, FBI Joins Investigation of Animal Mutilations Linked to UFOs. The article is written by William Barnhill, Bob Pratt, and David Wright. The article’s claims are basically true. The FBI was authorized by the Justice Department to become involved in the investigation of animal mutilations. The article goes on to say that at least 8000 cattle and horses have been mutilated with surgical precision over an area of about 1.28 million square miles covering the west-central United States. To see this article and accompanying map showing areas with a large number of reported animal mutilations, see: http://foia.fbi.gov/cattle/cattle2.pdf, and see page 13 of 25 in sequence. These mutilations began around 1970.

In the article a New Mexico State Trooper, Gabe Valdez, who has investigated more than 100 mutilations, stated “Any place we’ve had a mutilation we have also had UFO sightings.” According to Dr. Henry Monteith, an engineering physicist at Sandia Laboratories revealed that the Indians are so terrified by the mutilations that they bury the carcasses immediately. Even their dogs refuse to go near the carcasses. Dr. Monteith, who has been investigating the mutilations since they began, said the Indians told him of actually seeing spaceships land and “star people” chasing down the animals and taking them back to the spaceships. What ever the truth is, the article goes on to say, “Many other investigators ---police, scientists, and UFO researchers – agree the UFOs are the only possible explanation.”

On April 20, 1979, a conference on cattle mutilations was held at the Albuquerque, New Mexico, Public Library. It was chaired by Senator Harrison Schmitt of New Mexico. Of the approximate 180 attendees there were representatives from various law enforcement agencies, news media representatives, and the general public.

Forrest S. Putman, FBI Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Albuquerque office, explained to the conference that the Justice Department had given the FBI authority to investigate those cattle mutilations which had occurred or might occur on Indian Lands. SAC Putman also said in order to resolve this mutilation mystery the facts surrounding each mutilation should be gathered and computerized.

Gabe Valdez, New Mexico State Police, reported he has investigated the death of 90 cattle during the past three years. Valdez was convinced that the mutilations of the animals have not been the work of predators because of the precise manner of the cuts.

Another conference attendee was David Perkins, Director of the Department of Research at Libre School in Farasita, Colorado, he exhibited a map of the United States which contained hundreds of colored pins showing mutilation sites. Perkins said, “The only thing that makes sense about the mutilations is that they make no sense at all.”

Also attending the conference was Richard Sigismund, a Social Scientist from Boulder, Colorado. He presented a theory that the cattle mutilations are possibly related to UFO activity. Numerous other persons at the conference made similar presentations.

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Later in the conference investigators from Arkansas pointed out that they had examined 28 cases of cattle mutilations and they had concluded that all their cases were the work of intentional mutilators and not predators.

See the report on the conference at: http://foia.fbi.gov/cattle/cattle4.pdf . See pages 23-27 of 27 in sequence.

With thousands of reported cattle mutilations and many more unreported this area of west-central United States is far above anywhere else in the world for this type of phenomena.

A report written in 1976 by Gabriel L. Valdez, New Mexico State Policeman, concerning cattle mutilations, Valdez states, “Investigation has also revealed that on all cattle mutilations which have occurred in New Mexico and surrounding states, that the object of the mutilations has been the lymph node system.” See the report at: http://foia.fbi.gov/cattle/cattle3.pdf. See pages 20 and 21 of 26 in sequence for statement about that the object of the mutilations has been the lymph node system. Gabriel L. Valdez, New Mexico State Police.

This man has investigated over 100 cattle mutilations over the years and more than likely knows what he is talking about. The lymphatic system plays an important role in the nuclear fallout ingestion of strontium 90 and plutonium, both accumulate in the bone and bone marrow. Lymphocytes originate in the bone marrow, a primary lymphoid organ. Lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell, originate and mature within the lymphoid system. They circulate in the lymph and the bloodstream and are the predominant cell type of lymphoid organs. Lymph nodes are lymphoid organs located on lymphatic vessels. Lymph flowing through these vessels is filtered through the nodes. The lymphoid system is a major component of the immune system. Any degradation of the lymphoid system, such a radiation from strontium 90 of the bone marrow would in turn degrade the immune system. A study done at Berkley, California, found that in studies of plutonium in rats that there appears to be migration of the plutonium to the hilar lymph nodes. See the report at: LETTER TO J C BUGHER, SUBJECT: PROBLEMS SURROUNDING THE INHALATION OF RADIOACTIVE PARTICLES .

So if someone was going to do a survey of radioactive contamination of cattle from strontium 90 and plutonium they would more than likely look at the lymph node system. The area where the cattle mutilations are taking place in great abundance is heavily contaminated with strontium 90 and plutonium. As we have already seen that it was predicted that the strontium 90 from Operation Castle which dumped a large quantity of fallout on the mid-west would reach maximum soil activity in about 1970, around the same time that this massive wave of cattle mutilations began.

A study of what has been taken during these cattle mutilations reveals some very interesting things. Here is a list of items taken from the cattle:

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1 Vulva

2. Udders

3. Scrotum

4. Penis

5. Testicles

6. Rectum

7. Vagina

8. Tongue

9. Lymph gland

10. Lower lip

11. Patches of skin

12. Eyes

Reading from the document EVALUATION OF RADIOACTIVE FALL-OUT, Armed Forces Special Weapons Project, September 15, 1955, we learn what the government was worried about concerning strontium 90 as a long range internal hazard. On pages 95-96 it states, “As will be shown below, Strontium 90 appears to be not only the critical element for determining safety standards, but it is also responsible for practically all of the long-term effect, and therefore the parameters relating to this element define practically the whole problem of long range internal hazard.” Further on page 96 it states, “In order to assess the biological significance of radioactive fall-out as an internal hazard, it is important to identify the pathological process which will be the limiting parameter. Among the pathological processes to be considered are the effects on the bone marrow leading to anemia, direct tissue destruction of gastro-intestinal and urinary structures, genetic effects, and carcinogenesis.” See: EVALUATION OF RADIOACTIVE FALLOUT ( EXTRACTED VERSION )

At the Ninth Annual Hanford Biology Symposium, Dr Nilsson reported that Sr90 has a strong affinity for the testes, and produces a stronger aspermatogonia effect than does an equivalent dosage of x rays. See: MEMO TO M W CARTER, SUBJECT: " EVIDENCE FOR LOW-LEVEL RADIATION EFFECTS ON THE HUMAN EMBRYO AND FETUS," BY E STERNGLASS , see page 6 of 8 in sequence.

Dr. Janette Sherman, Internal Medicine specialist, explaining about the importance of a health study ( The Strontium Teeth Project) near nuclear power plants, described the harmful effects of radioactive Yttrium , a daughter product of strontium 90 that affects the body’s soft tissue including the breasts, ovaries, and testes.

(6)

From a paper from the Journal of Dairy Science, December, 1958, Vol. 41, No. 12, pages 1647-1662, titled, SIGNIFICANCE OF STRONTIUM-90 IN MILK, A REVIEW, by B. L. Larson and K. E. Ebner, concerning the pathway of strontium into animals, it is stated, “ When plants are eaten by animals, a portion of the Sr-90 absorbed is deposited rather permanently along with calcium in the bone, though at a somewhat slower rate than calcium. This deposition occurs mainly at sites of active bone growth and bone tissue replacement. Sr-90 can also be passed from the blood stream into developing fetus and into milk. See: CAESIUM-137 IN DRIED MILK PRODUCTS IN RELATION TO PHYTOCLIMATIC ZONES ( REPRINTED FROM NATURE, VOL. 197, NO. 4863, PP. 197-198 JANUARY 12, 1963 ) , see page 7 of 19 in sequence.

So we have learned that strontium 90 affects the urinary and gastro-intestinal structures (penis and rectum and the area of the vulva), testes, ovaries, and lymph gland and the whole lymphatic system. We have also learned that plutonium appears to migrate to the hilar lymph nodes. Many of these areas are what are being taken in the cattle mutilations. This does seem to point to a radiological survey for the effects of strontium 90 and plutonium.

BIBLIOGRAPHY SOURCES

OHP Marshall Islands Document Collection Search Page

http://worf.eh.doe.gov

http://worf.eh.doe.gov/data/ihp1b/7582_.pdf

WORLDWIDE EFFECTS OF ATOMIC WEAPONS PROJECT SUNSHINE

Author: UNK
Document Date: 08/06/53
Pages: 0056
Document Number: 0407582
Document Type: RT
Location: NEVADA, PACIFIC ISLANDS
Subject Area:
Kijiner Code:
Keywords: EFFECTS, SUNSHINE PROJECT, REPORTS, NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS, GABRIEL PROJECT, STRONTIUM, RADIOACTIVE DEBRIS, CALCIUM OXIDE, CALCIUM CARBONATE, METEOROLOGY, CYCLONES, TUMBLER-SNAPPER OPERATION, IVY OPERATION, PACIFIC PROVING GROUNDS (PPG) OPERATIONS, CALCIUM ME
Original Doc Number: R-251-AEC

(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((

1.00

PROJECT SUNSHINE - PROGRESS FROM SEPTEMBER 1953 TO JANUARY 4, 1954

Author: UNK
Document Date: 01/08/54
Pages: 0092
Document Number: 0407588
Document Type: RT
Location: LOGAN UT, ITHACA NY, ALBANY NY, RUTGERS NJ, TIFTON GA
Subject Area:
Kijiner Code:
Keywords: SUNSHINE PROJECT, SIMULATED RAIN, STRONTIUM, FALLOUT, ANALYTICAL PROCEDURES, ESTIMATES, ELECTROSTATIC PRECIPITATOR, MILK, URINES, SOILS, STRONTIUM 90, YTTRIUM 90, BONES, VEGETATION, ANIMAL BONES, BLOOD, WATER
Original Doc Number:
Source Agency: US AEC

(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((

RAND SUNSHINE PROJECT CONFERENCE DECEMBER 16, 17, 18, 1953 SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA

Author: CLAUS W D, LIBBY W F
Document Date: 12/30/53
Pages: 0037
Document Number: 0407554
Document Type: RT
Location: NONE
Subject Area:
Kijiner Code:
Keywords: SUNSHINE PROJECT, CONFERENCES, MEMBERS, STRONTIUM 90, ACTIVITY LEVELS, REFERENCE MAN, RADIOECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION, BABIES, MILK, STRONTIUM 89, BIOASSAY, MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE CONCENTRATION, COUNTING TECHNIQUES, LOW LEVEL COUNTING, IVY OPERATION, MIKE EVEN
Original Doc Number:
Source Agency: RAND

((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((9

WORLD-WIDE FALLOUT FROM OPERATION CASTLE

Author: LIST R J
Document Date: 05/17/55
Pages:
Document Number: NYO-4645(DEL.2
Document Type: RT
Location: PACIFIC PROVING GROUNDS, MARSHALL ISLANDS, PACIFIC PROVING GROUNDS, MARSHALL ISLANDS
Subject Area: MI BOX 30
Kijiner Code:
Keywords: GLOBAL FALLOUT, CASTLE OPERATION, STICKY TRAYS, RADIATION MONITORING, MAPS, METEOROLOGICAL DATA
Original Doc Number: NYO-4645(DEL.2
Source Agency: DOC

(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((

RADIATIONS FROM FALLOUT AND THEIR EFFECTS BY G M DUNNING

Author: DUNNING G M
Document Date: 05/01/57
Pages: 0062
Document Number: 0410796
Document Type: RT
Location: FALLINI RANCH NV, UNITED STATES, PACIFIC PROVING GROUNDS, RONGELAP ATOLL, HURRICANE UT, EUREKA NV, VEYO UT, LUND NV, SHOSHONE NV, ALAMO NV, MODENA UT, OVERTON NV, SANTA CLARA UT, PINTURA UT, SAINT GEORGE UT, ROX NV
Subject Area: 403014
Kijiner Code:
Keywords: PLUMBBOB OPERATION, RADIATION PROTECTION, ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS, PARTICLES, RADIOACTIVITY, CASTLE OPERATION, FISSION PRODUCTS, RECOMMENDATIONS, WEATHER, EXTERNAL DOSIMETRY, GAMMA SPECTRA, FOOD IRRADIATION, THEORETICAL DATA, BONES
Original Doc Number:
Source Agency: AEC

(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((

LETTER TO J B SANDERS, SUBJECT: SHIPMENT OF BONES AND FETAL TISSUE ( ENCL: ROUTING SLIP TO SANDERS, SUBJECT: SHIPMENT OF CATTLE )

Author: TRUM B F
Document Date: 02/27/54
Pages: 0003
Document Number: 0404992
Document Type: CO,RO
Location: NEVADA TEST SITE NV
Subject Area: MEDICAL MATTERS
Kijiner Code:
Keywords: UPSHOT-KNOTHOLE OPERATION, LIVESTOCK, ANIMALS, CATTLE, BOVINES, BONES, TISSUE
Original Doc Number:
Source Agency: U TENN

((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((

LETTER TO J C BUGHER, SUBJECT: PROBLEMS SURROUNDING THE INHALATION OF RADIOACTIVE PARTICLES

Author: HAMILTON J G
Document Date: 02/25/53
Pages: 0002
Document Number: 0403981
Document Type: CO
Location: WASHINGTON DC, DUGWAY, NEVADA TEST SITE, NEVADA
Subject Area: MEDICAL MATTERS
Kijiner Code:
Keywords: US AEC, PLUTONIUM, NEVADA TEST SITE OPERATIONS, DOSIMETRY, ALPHA PARTICLES, CARCINOGENESIS, RETENTION, OAK RIDGE NATIONAL LABORATORY (ORNL), LEUKEMIA, SKIN, AEROSOL MONITORING, GAMMA RADIATION, INHALATION, DELAYED RADIATION EFFECTS, BETA PARTICLES, PERSON
Original Doc Number:
Source Agency: U CALIF

(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((

MEMO TO M W CARTER, SUBJECT: " EVIDENCE FOR LOW-LEVEL RADIATION EFFECTS ON THE HUMAN EMBRYO AND FETUS," BY E STERNGLASS
Author: VANDERSMISSEN E
Document Date: 07/22/69
Pages: 0008
Document Number: 0403480
Document Type: CO
Location: ARIZONA, INDIANA, WYOMING, NEVADA TEST SITE, ST GEORGE UT, TEXAS, USA, MARSHALL ISLANDS, CEDAR CITY UT, NORTH DAKOTA, NEW MEXICO, NEW YORK, TROY NY, IDAHO
Subject Area: MEDICAL MATTERS
Kijiner Code:
Keywords: COMMENTARY, INFANTS, RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION, FALLOUT, INVESTIGATIONS, DISEASES, THYROIDS, FETUSES, MORTALITY, ATMOSPHERIC EXPLOSIONS, TESTING, WINDS, TRINITY EVENT, RADIATION DOSES, NUCLEAR WEAPONS, RADIATION EFFECTS, NEWS CLIPPINGS
Original Doc Number:
Source Agency: PHS

((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((

CAESIUM-137 IN DRIED MILK PRODUCTS IN RELATION TO PHYTOCLIMATIC ZONES ( REPRINTED FROM NATURE, VOL. 197, NO. 4863, PP. 197-198 JANUARY 12, 1963 )

Author: LARSON B L, EBNER K E
Document Date:
Pages: 0019
Document Number: 0407948
Document Type: JA
Location: UNITED STATES, OREGON, NORTH DAKOTA, IDAHO, UTAH, WASHINGTON, SOUTH DAKOTA
Subject Area:
Kijiner Code:
Keywords: CESIUM 137, MILK PRODUCTS, CORRELATIONS, RAIN, PRECIPITATION, CLIMATES, BIOMASS, PLANTS, REGIONAL ANALYSIS, GEOGRAPHICAL VARIATIONS
Original Doc Number:
Source Agency:

(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((

EVALUATION OF RADIOACTIVE FALLOUT ( EXTRACTED VERSION )

Author: MAXWELL R D, PAINE R W, SHEA T E, ET AL
Document Date: 05/15/81
Pages:
Document Number: AFSWP-978 (EX
Document Type: RT
Location:
Subject Area: MI-347
Kijiner Code:
Keywords: IODINE 131, IODINE 133, CASTLE OPERATION, RADIATION HAZARDS, INHALATION, MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE CONCENTRATIONS (MPC)
Original Doc Number: AFSWP-978 (EX
Source Agency: AFSWP

(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((


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Strontium

The Basics

What is strontium?

Strontium (chemical symbol Sr) is a silvery metal that rapidly turns yellowish in air. Strontium is found naturally as a non-radioactive element. Strontium has 16 known isotopes. Naturally occurring strontium is found as four stable isotopes Sr-84, -86, -87, and -88. Twelve other isotopes are radioactive. Strontium-90 is the most important radioactive isotope in the environment.

Who discovered strontium?

In 1790 Adair Crawford and William Cruikshank first detected non-radioactive strontium in the mineral strontianite in Scotland. Metallic strontium was isolated in 1808 by Sir Humphry Davy.

Radioactive Sr-90, like many other radionuclides, was discovered in the 1940s in nuclear experiments connected to the development of the atomic bomb.

Where does strontium-90 come from?

Strontium-90 is a by-product of the fission of uranium and plutonium in nuclear reactors, and in nuclear weapons. Strontium-90 is found in waste from nuclear reactors. It can also contaminate reactor parts and fluids. Large amounts of Sr-90 were produced during atmospheric nuclear weapons tests conducted in the 1950s and 1960s and dispersed worldwide.

What are the properties of strontium-90?

Non-radioactive strontium and its radioactive isotopes have the same physical properties. Strontium is a soft metal similar to lead. Strontium is chemically very reactive, and is only found in compounds in nature.

When freshly cut, it has a silvery luster, but rapidly reacts with air and turns yellow. Finely cut strontium will burst into flame in air. Because of these qualities, it is generally stored in kerosene.

Strontium-90 emits a beta particle with, no gamma radiation, as it decays to yttrium-90 (also radioactive). Strontium-90 has a half-life of 29.1 years. Strontium-90 behaves chemically much like calcium, and therefore tends to concentrate in the bones and teeth.

What is strontium-90 used for?

Strontium-90 is used as a radioactive tracer in medical and agricultural studies. The heat generated by strontium-90's radioactive decay can be converted to electricity for long-lived, light-weight power supplies. These are often used in remote locations, such as in navigational beacons, weather stations, and space vehicles. Strontium-90 is also used in electron tubes, as a radiation source in industrial thickness gauges, and for the treatment of eye diseases. Controlled amounts of strontium-90 have been used as a treatment for bone cancer.

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Exposure to Strontium-90

How does strontium-90 get into the environment?

Strontium-90 was widely dispersed in the 1950s and 1960s in fall out from atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons. It has been slowly decaying since then so that current levels from these tests are very low.

Strontium-90 is also found in waste from nuclear reactors. It is considered one of the more hazardous constituents of nuclear wastes. The accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant also introduced a large amount of Sr-90 into the environment. A large part of the Sr-90 was deposited in the Soviet Republics. The rest was dispersed as fallout over Northern Europe and worldwide. No significant amount of stronium-90 reached the U.S.

How does strontium-90 change in the environment?

As strontium-90 decays, it releases radiation and forms yttrium-90 (Y-90), which in turn decays to stable zirconium. The half-life of Sr-90 is 29.1 years, and that of Yttrium-90 is 64 hours. Sr-90 emits moderate energy beta particles, and Y-90 emits very strong (energetic) beta particles. Strontium-90 can form many chemical compounds, including halides, oxides, and sulfides, and moves easily through the environment.

How do people come in contact with strontium-90?

Everyone is exposed to small amounts of strontium-90, since it is widely dispersed in the environment and the food chain. Dietary intake of Sr-90, however, has steadily fallen over the last 30 years with the suspension of nuclear weapons testing. People who live near or work in nuclear facilities may have increased exposure to Sr-90. The greatest concern would be the exposures from an accident at a nuclear reactor, or an accident involving high-level wastes.

How does strontium-90 get into the body?

People may inhale trace amounts of strontium-90 as a contaminant in dust. But, swallowing Sr-90 with food or water is the primary pathway of intake.

What does strontium-90 do once it gets into the body?

When people ingest Sr-90, about 70-80% of it passes through the body. Virtually all of the remaining 20-30% that is absorbed is deposited in the bone. About 1% is distributed among the blood volume, extracellular fluid, soft tissue, and surface of the bone, where it may stay and decay or be excreted.

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Health Effects of Strontium-90

How can strontium-90 affect people's health?

Strontium-90 is chemically similar to calcium, and tends to deposit in bone and blood-forming tissue (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.

Risk of cancer increases with increased exposure to Sr-90. The risk depends on the concentration of Sr-90 in the environment, and on the exposure conditions.

Is there a medical test to determine exposure to strontium-90?

The most common test for exposure to strontium-90 is a bioassay, usually by urinalysis. As with most cases of internal contamination, the sooner the test is taken after ingesting or inhaling the contaminant, the more accurate the results will be. Most major medical centers should be capable of performing this test.

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Protecting People from Strontium-90

What can I do to protect myself and my family from strontium-90?

Strontium-90 dispersed in the environment, like that from atmospheric weapons testing, is almost impossible to avoid. You may also be exposed to tiny amounts from nuclear power reactors and certain government facilities. The more serious risk to you (though it is unlikely), is that you may unwittingly encounter an industrial instrument containing a Sr-90 radiation source. This is more likely if you work in specific industries:

scrap metal sorting, sales and brokerage
metal melting and casting
municipal landfill operations.

Orphan Sources Initiative

How do I know strontium if I'm near strontium-90?

Although you are exposed to tiny amounts of strontium-90 from past accidents and weapons testing, you cannot sense its presence. You need specialized equipment to detect Sr-90.

What is EPA doing about strontium-90?

EPA protects people and the environment from Sr-90 by establishing standards for the clean-up of contaminated sites, by setting limits on the amount of Sr-90 (and other radionuclides) that may be released to the air, and by setting limits on the amount of strontium-90 (and other radionuclides) that may be present in public drinking water.

EPA uses its authority under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (commonly known as "Superfund") to set standards for the clean-up of existing contaminated sites. Cleanups must meet all environmental requirements that are relevant or applicable, including state regulations and regulations issued in connection with other federal environmental laws.

When these types of regulations are unavailable, or not protective enough, EPA sets site-specific cleanup levels. Site-specific standards limit the chance of developing cancer because of exposure to a site-related carcinogen (such as strontium-90) to between one in 10,000 and one in 1,000,000.

	EPA's Superfund Radiation Webpage
	EPA's Superfund Hotline: 1-800-424-9346 or 1-800-535-0202

EPA uses its Clean Air Act authority to set limits on the amount of radionuclides, such as Sr-90, that may be released to the air.

National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants

EPA uses its Safe Drinking Water Act authority to establish maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for beta emitters, such as strontium-90, in public drinking water. The MCL for beta emitters is 4 millirem per year or 8 picoCuries per liter of water.

Maximum Contaminant Levels for Radionuclides: Quick Reference

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