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The lethal toxicity of caesium 137

A large number of highly radioactive isotopes released by the destruction of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant grossly contaminated the Japanese mainland. Most of these radionuclides had short half lives which meant they would essentially disappear in a matter of days or months. For many of those who were exposed to them there will be major health consequences. However, there were some radioactive elements that will not rapidly disappear. And it is these long-lived radionuclides that will remain to negatively affect the health of all complex life forms that are exposed to them. Chief among them is Cesium-137, which has taken on special significance because it is has proven to be the…

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 A legacy of atmospheric nuclear bomb tests and accidents

Caesium 137 is a radioactive element with a relatively long radioactive half-life of 30.15 years. This particular isotope of caesium is both a beta and gamma emitter. It is produced in some abundance by fission reactions. A lot of attention is focused on caesium 137 : it is the main source of long term contaminations after atmosphric tests of atomic bombs and nuclear accidents. Along with strontium 90 and a handful of plutonium isotopes, it will also be the main source of radiation from radioactive waste for the next hundred or so years.

 Cesium-137: A Deadly Hazard

Cesium-137 is an especially dangerous fission product because of its high yield during fission, moderate half-life, high-energy decay pathway, and chemical reactivity. Because of these properties, cesium-137 is a major contributor to the total radiation released during nuclear accidents. Finally, a discussion of its practical applications is beyond the scope of this report, but cesium-137 has received some use as a medical radioisotope for cancer therapies [6,8]. Future research of effective methods for cesium-137 containment and capture may someday alleviate future nuclear crises.

 Cesium-137’s danger and what happens if I am exposed to it

Cesium-137 is the most common radioactive form of cesium. It is produced by the process called “nuclear fission”, the splitting of uranium and plutonium in a reactor or atomic bomb. It emits 2 types of radiation which are Beta particles and Gamma Rays. With a half-life of 30.17 years, cesium-137 would take 300-600 years to be broken down completely. In the meantime, it will cause many problems to the environment and individual’s health. After briefly mentioning many adverse effects of cesium-137, you may wonder, if it is so hazardous, then why do people still use cesium-137? Under close supervision and implementation, it can do more good than harm. With a small amount, it can be used for the calibration of radiation-detection equipment. In a large amount, is it used in medical radiation therapy devices for treating cancer, industrial gauges, and industrial device used to measure the thickness of materials. Currently, the antidote for cesium-137 is available and is called “Prussian Blue”. It is effective and safe for use to treat radioactive intoxication. Prussian Blue comes in a pill that can help to remove radioactive cesium from the body. The mechanism is trapping radioactive cesium from absorbing into the body. These radioactive materials are then moved through the intestine and got excreted from the body, decreasing the time it is circulating in the body. Since it only can be given by prescription, get to the hospital as fast as you can if you have the symptoms mentioned above.

Articles of Interest

After imported shrimp recalls, FDA also finds radioactive spices

Federal regulators have detected possible radioactive contamination in a second food product sent to the U.S. from Indonesia, even as recalls of potentially tainted shrimp continue to grow. The discovery adds to questions about the source of the unusual problem.

A comprehensive review of eco toxicity of Cesium 137 deterioration of radionuclides pollution

As a result of the disasters at Chernobyl, Fukushima, Kramatorsk, and Georgia, the cesium 137 concentration in air, soil, and water has reached fatal levels. Soil, plants, bacteria, and animals all enter the food chain and are exposed to cesium, which then accumulates and causes harm to humans.

Cesium 137 - The Main Danger Found in Nuclear Fallout

Let's take a closer look at the radioactive Caesium 137!

Cesium-137 deposition and contamination of Japanese soils due to the Fukushima nuclear accident

The largest concern on the cesium-137 (137Cs) deposition and its soil contamination due to the emission from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) showed up after a massive quake on March 11, 2011. Cesium-137 (137Cs) with a half-life of 30.1 y causes the largest concerns because of its deleterious effect on agriculture and stock farming, and, thus, human life for decades.

Cesium-137 deposition and contamination of Japanese soils due to the Fukushima nuclear accident

The largest concern on the cesium-137 (137Cs) deposition and its soil contamination due to the emission from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) showed up after a massive quake on March 11, 2011. Cesium-137 (137Cs) with a half-life of 30.1 y causes the largest concerns because of its deleterious effect on agriculture and stock farming, and, thus, human life for decades.

FDA Warns About Shrimp Containing Cesium-137

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently issued a warning regarding radioactivity in certain frozen shrimp products cautioning against their sale or consumption. Cesium-137 is a radioactive element that is produced during nuclear fission. Cesium-137 can be found in the environment as a result of accidental releases from nuclear power plants or from nuclear weapon testing. It is also used in industry in some gauges and in medicine for radiation therapy. People can be exposed to cesium-137 by breathing in air, drinking water, or eating food that contains cesium-137. Exposure to high levels of cesium-137 can cause negative health effects including cell damage, burns, acute radiation syndrome, and an increased risk of cancer.

How dangerous is cesium?

Cesium (Cesium: Cs-137) is a radioactive material, being an isotope of cesium. It appears as a solid similar to salt powder and can disperse when released from the capsules it is contained in. It has a (Half Life) of approximately 30 years. Upon decay, it releases beta radiation (Not Penetrate) about 95% and gamma radiation (Penetrate), transforming into Barium-137 (Ba-137)

Hundreds Were Accidentally Poisoned 35 Years Ago by Rogue Radiation Source

No one informed authorities about the neglected equipment, and two years later criminals removed the machine and sold it to the local junkyard, where it was dismantled. In the process, the Cesium-137 that was still inside was released, contaminating people and objects. The folks at the junkyard were quite fascinated by the now glowing blue stones in the area and gave them away to family and friends. Unbeknownst to the people involved, the fun colorful rocks were actually tainted with radiation and were extremely dangerous.

Indonesia races to determine extent of radioactive contamination at industrial zone

The contamination was first detected in a batch of shrimp shipped to the US in August and later linked to a scrap metal plant.

Indonesia races to determine extent of radioactive contamination at industrial zone

The contamination was first detected in a batch of shrimp shipped to the US in August and later linked to a scrap metal plant.

Officials sound alarm after more than 20 factories receive shipment of dangerous containers: 'If America hadn't detected it, we wouldn't have known'

What they discovered was a public health and environmental disaster-in-progress, identifying a chain reaction of potentially deadly contamination with only vague leads as to how it originated and, in turn, how to ensure the risk had been eliminated. Authorities traced the cesium 137 release to a small scrap-metal smelter at an industrial park outside Indonesia's capital, Jakarta; Bloomberg noted it was "unclear" whether the release occurred "by accident or deliberately."

The Hidden Danger of Cesium-137 — The Invisible Radiation That Can Kill

Cesium-137 (Cs-137) — a byproduct of nuclear fission — emits Beta and Gamma radiation that can silently damage your body. It mimics potassium, hides in your muscles for over 100 days, and continues to irradiate from within.

The Hidden Dangers of Cesium-137 Radiation on the Body

Once released, cesium-137 can enter the human body through contaminated food, water, or inhalation. The body mistakes cesium for potassium, an essential mineral, and distributes it throughout soft tissues, especially the muscles. Unlike some radioactive materials that accumulate in bones or specific organs, cesium spreads widely, exposing large areas of the body to radiation.

ToxFAQs™ for Cesium

Cesium is a naturally occurring element found combined with other elements in rocks, soil, and dust in low amounts. Naturally occurring cesium is not radioactive and is referred to as stable cesium. There is only one stable form of cesium naturally present in the environment, 133Cs (read as cesium one-thirty-three). Nuclear explosions or the breakdown of uranium in fuel elements can produce two radioactive forms of cesium, 134Cs and 137Cs. Both isotopes decay into non-radioactive elements. 134Cs and 137Cs generate beta particles as they decay. It takes about 2 years for half of 134Cs to give off its radiation and about 30 years for 137Cs; this is called the halflife.

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CDC

Cs-137 is produced by nuclear fission for use in medical devices and gauges. Cs-137 also is one of the byproducts of nuclear fission processes in nuclear reactors and nuclear weapons testing. Small quantities of Cs-137 can be found in the environment from nuclear weapons tests that occurred in the 1950s and 1960s. It can also be found in nuclear reactor accidents, such as the Chernobyl power plant accident in 1986, which distributed Cs-137 to many countries in Europe.