Strontium-90, ever hear of it? Maybe if you're older or work in the nuclear field but I bet most have not. It's a byproduct of nuclear fission like from a nuclear weapon detonation, it is radioactive. Before the above ground test ban people downwind from nuclear tests were exposed to Strontium-90. Studies of downwinders, those that were exposed to the most fallout have suffered an increase in rates of leukemia and bone cancer.
Why the increase in leukemia and bone cancer? Because Strontium is a close relative, periodic table speaking, to calcium and therefore the human body will treat it like calcium so it will be deposited in bones and teeth. Once in the body strontium will emit radiation as it undergoes decay and that radiation will damage other cells, genetic damage leading to bone cancer and/or leukemia. Remember, bone marrow plays a large part in production of blood cells, including lymphocytes a type of white blood cells.
But how does strontium-90 enter the human body? It can be inhaled or ingested, mostly it is ingested. Strontium-90 can contaminate water and plant matter like grass, grains, vegetables. Cow's milk is a big source of strontium-90 after a nuclear accident or nuclear war. Cows will eat grass that is contaminated by strontium-90 which then is excreted as part of milk in place of some of the calcium normally found in milk. The consumption of grass and the production of milk concentrates the strontium-90 making for a radioactive milkshake. This is why they warned people during the Cold War not to consume dairy products after a nuclear attack.
Even though strontium-90 contaminated parts of America during the above ground testing days it was not a large problem like it would be in the case of a nuclear war, even a limited one. There is a large difference in detonating a nuclear warhead every now and then in the desert or on an isolated island than multiple war heads exploding within minutes or hours over cities. With cities you increase fallout from debris made of material that was once, buildings, bridges, cars, trees, animals, and even people. That dust will be sucked up in the mushroom clouds and smoke from fires and spread for miles around, pretty much all over the earth. That fallout will be guaranteed to contain strontium-90 and other radioactive mater, which will then contaminate everything, including farms. For years on end, if you survive, every bit of produce you consume will be contaminated with radioactive material. Strontium-90 has a half-life of 28.8 years, meaning in 28.8 years half of the material will decay into another element, yttrium-90 which itself is radioactive.
Adults are at less risk of bone cancer or leukemia, but children, whose bones are developing, are at great risk, especially babies and toddlers. It is not just dairy you would have to look out for, you would have to worry about your child playing outside, or even if fallout was tracked into your house that would contaminate the rugs and floors where kids spent most of their time playing.
Why am I writing this? To let you know that if you think Trump is handling the North Korean situation the right way you should expect to have to deal with the after effects. It is too late to stop North Korea from gaining nukes, the only option left is to use the policy used during the Cold War, MAD, Mutual assured destruction. You attack us we attack you and no one wins. This is how the Cold War went and even though we claim close to Nuclear War, diplomacy won out. It will take the same diplomacy today. Either that, or deal with Strontium-90 and the other radioactive bad guys.
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