A Review of Radioactive Strontium for Radiation Protection Purposes

Strontium is a ubiquitous element due to its presence, of both natural and anthropogenic origin, in all environmental compartments. In stable or radioactive form, it has numerous industrial and medical applications and is also used in research projects. For radioactive isotopes of strontium, the risk of exposure through irradiation or internal contamination is therefore very real. In addition, in the current international context, CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear) risks have increased and diversified, with a more present terrorist component. Among the possible scenarios, malevolent acts such as the use of a "dirty bomb" containing sources of radionuclides (including strontium) currently used in industry, in the medical field, or for research must be envisaged. As a result, the authorities need to have effective and operational tools of prevention and protection at their disposal to be able to respond to these growing threats, which expose not only the civilian population but also the military and first responders. This review presents the most relevant up-to-date data, notably covering biokinetics, health effects, and pharmacological treatments following internal contamination exposure to radioactive strontium compounds. Following this critical review of existing research work, the need for additional advanced knowledge is emphasized in the fields of toxicity and medical treatments, which are fundamental areas in radiation protection.