césio137

Cesium-137, symbolized as Cs-137, is a radioactive isotope of cesium. It is a fission product, meaning it is created during nuclear reactions, most notably in nuclear reactors and nuclear weapons. Cesium-137 is a pure beta emitter and decays with a half-life of approximately 30.17 years into a stable isotope of barium, Barium-137m, which then decays to stable Barium-137. This decay process also releases gamma radiation.

The widespread presence of Cesium-137 in the environment is primarily a result of atmospheric nuclear weapons testing conducted between the 1940s and 1980s. Nuclear fallout dispersed Cs-137 globally. Significant accidental releases have also occurred, most notably at the Chernobyl disaster in 1986 and the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster in 2011, contaminating large areas of land and water.

Due to its chemical properties, cesium behaves similarly to potassium in biological systems. It is soluble in water and can be absorbed by plants and animals. When ingested or inhaled by humans, Cesium-137 can be incorporated into soft tissues, particularly muscle. While the external gamma radiation poses a risk, the primary concern for internal exposure is the beta radiation it emits, which can damage cells and increase the risk of cancer. Monitoring and remediation efforts are in place in areas affected by significant contamination.