Public Health Statement: Strontium
Public Health Statement: Strontium
Public Health Statement: Strontium
Strontium
CAS#: 7440-24-6
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DEPARTMENT of HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Public Health Service
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
All people have small amounts of stable strontium The federal government develops regulations and
in their bodies, mostly in bone. It can be measured recommendations to protect public health.
in the blood, hair, feces, or urine. The amount is Regulations can be enforced by law. Federal
usually measured by its mass (grams). agencies that develop regulations for toxic
Measurements in urine can show whether you have substances include the Environmental Protection
been exposed recently to larger-than-normal Agency (EPA), the Occupational Safety and Health
amounts of strontium. Measurements in hair can Administration (OSHA), the Food and Drug
reveal whether you were exposed to high amounts Administration (FDA), and the U.S. Nuclear
of strontium in the past. Most physicians do not test Regulatory Commission (USNRC).
for strontium in their offices, but can collect
Recommendations provide valuable guidelines to
samples and send them to a special laboratory. X-
protect public health but cannot be enforced by law.
rays can show changes in bone that may occur from
exposure to high amounts of strontium, but theseFederal organizations that develop
changes may have other causes (a diet low in recommendations for toxic substances include the
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
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DEPARTMENT of HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Public Health Service
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
EPA recommends that drinking water levels of ATSDR can also tell you the location of
stable strontium should not be more than occupational and environmental health clinics.
4 milligrams per liter of water (4 mg/L). These clinics specialize in recognizing, evaluating,
and treating illnesses resulting from exposure to
The Department of Energy (DOE) established hazardous substances.
derived air concentrations (DAC) for workplace
exposure to radiation at DOE facilities. The DAC Toxicological profiles are also available on-line at
ranges from 0.000000002 microcuries per milliliter www.atsdr.cdc.gov and on CD-ROM. You may
(Ci/mL) (2x10-9 Ci/mL of air = 70 Bq/mL of request a copy of the ATSDR ToxProfiles CD-
air) for radioactive particles remaining in the lung ROM by calling the information and technical
for 100 days to 0.000000008 Ci/mL assistance toll-free number at 1-888-42ATSDR (1-
(8x10-9 Ci/mL of air = 300 Bq/mL of air) for 888-422-8737), by email at atsdric@cdc.gov, or by
radioactive particles remaining in the lung for less writing to:
than 10 days. The USNRC established an annual
intake limit of 20 Ci (7 MBq) for on-the-job Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
exposure to 90Sr in air. Division of Toxicology
1600 Clifton Road NE
EPA set standards for the concentration of 90Sr in Mailstop F-32
community water supplies. The average annual Atlanta, GA 30333
concentration of 90Sr in water supplies should not Fax: 1-770-488-4178
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DEPARTMENT of HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Public Health Service
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
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DEPARTMENT of HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Public Health Service
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry