Abstract: 7500-Sr A. Introduction

Strontium is a chemical analog of calcium that concentrates in bone when ingested. The two radionuclides of strontium that have the most significant biological effect are ⁹⁰Sr (t_1/2 = 28.8 y) and ⁸⁹Sr (t_1/2 = 50.6 d).

The method presented in this section is designed to measure total radiostrontium (⁸⁹Sr plus ⁹⁰Sr), isotopic ⁹⁰Sr alone, or isotopic ⁸⁹Sr and ⁹⁰Sr in drinking, ground, and effluent water samples using chemical separation, radiological ingrowth techniques and gas flow proportional counting.