Strontium-Calcium Movement from Soil to Man

Abstract

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.

Bioavailable 87Sr/86Sr in different environmental samples — Effects of anthropogenic contamination and implications for isoscapes in past migration studies

“…Weathering of the bedrock material releases Sr from minerals, which then percolates through soil pore waters and into the ecosystem (Ericson, 1985;Graustein, 1989). Strontium has similar chemical properties to calcium and tends to follow the same biological pathways; however, there is preferential absorption and retention of Ca over Sr by organisms (Comar et al, 1957). Strontium is mostly absorbed via drinking water and diet, in relative proportions to the Ca content in the foodstuffs, and is mainly stored in vertebrates in the mineral phases of bones and teeth (Comar et al, 1957;Rosenthal et al, 1972;Toots and Voorhies, 1965).…”

“…Strontium has similar chemical properties to calcium and tends to follow the same biological pathways; however, there is preferential absorption and retention of Ca over Sr by organisms (Comar et al, 1957). Strontium is mostly absorbed via drinking water and diet, in relative proportions to the Ca content in the foodstuffs, and is mainly stored in vertebrates in the mineral phases of bones and teeth (Comar et al, 1957;Rosenthal et al, 1972;Toots and Voorhies, 1965). Consequently, the skeletal 87 Sr/ 86 Sr mirrors, in a complex way, that of underlying geological strata (Ericson, 1985).…”

Passports from the past: Investigating human dispersals using strontium isotope analysis of tooth enamel

“…concern since the 1950s over 90 Sr fallout and exposure, coupled with its long residence time in bone (Comar et al 1957, Hodges et al1950, MacDonald et al 1951, Turekian and Kulp 1956) initiated a large corpus of work on strontium movement through the biosphere and incorporation into skeletal tissues (e.g. Blanchard 1966, Leggett et al 1982, Mangano et al 2003, Odum 1957, Papworth and Vennart 1984, Rickard 1964, Tolstykh et al 2003, Vose and Koontz 1959, Yamaguchi et al 2007).…”

Relative Uptake and Translocation of Potassium and Cesium in Barley

“…It was desired in particular to examine the effect of varying the external concentration of potassium. It (5). Values of less than unity indicate a more rapid rate of uptake of potassium.…”