Strontium Contamination in the Environment

This book provides an authoritative review of the origin and extraction of strontium and its impact on the environment. It also presents the latest strontium decontamination and remediation strategies. Around the globe, nuclear power is being recognized as a major source of energy and is expected to play a crucial role in meeting the energy requirements of present day society. However, the pros and cons have to be considered, and the safe disposal of large amounts of radionuclide wastes is becoming a matter of great concern. These wastes encompass contaminants such as heavy metals and toxic substances, which may exist in solid, liquid or gaseous forms or a combination of these, and as such, their disposal requires particular attention.

The book focuses on ⁹⁰Sr, which is a predominant isotope of strontium and considered an intermediate level radioactive waste with a half-life of 28. 8 years, average biological half-life of 18 years and 546 KeV decay energy. Written by expert contributors, it addresses occurrence, detection and extraction of strontium, the chemical and nuclear properties of strontium isotopes, the fate and migration of strontium in soil, its bioaccumulation, and its associated health impact, mechanistic toxicity response as well as related regulation and remediation. It appeals to scholars, scientists and environmental managers working with strontium contamination in the environment and its consequences.

Strontium: Source, occurrence, properties and detection. - Isotopes of strontium: Properties and applications. - Strontium extraction from the geo-environment. - Biosorption of strontium from aqueous solutions. - Plant response under strontium and phytoremediation. - Uptake, transport, and remediation of strontium. - Spatial distribution of ⁹⁰Sr in the ecosystems of Polesie State Radiation-Ecological Reserve. - Spatial distribution of ⁹⁰Sr from different sources in soils of the Urals region, Russia. - ⁹⁰Sr in the components of pine forests of Belarusian part of Chernobyl NPP exclusion zone. - Removal of strontium by physio-chemical adsorption and ion exchange methods. - Use of the sorption method for strontium removal. - Assessment of the alkaline earth metals (Ca, Sr, Ba) and their associated health impacts.