cesium-137
Quick Summary
Cesium-137 (Cs-137) is a radioactive isotope of cesium with a mass number of 137. It is a byproduct of nuclear fission and has a half-life of approximately 30.17 years.12
Cs-137 is a significant component of nuclear fallout and a waste product from nuclear fuel production, posing an environmental hazard. It can be absorbed by plants from contaminated soil, similar to potassium, and then enters the human food chain through consumption of water, plants, and animal products. Due to its long half-life, Cs-137 is considered one of the more hazardous radioisotopes found in fallout. It can accumulate in the body, with the critical organ being the whole body, and it is retained for years.234
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