Bone seeker
Encyclopedia
Bone seeker describes an element, often a radioisotope, that tends to accumulate in the bones of humans and animals when it is introduced into the body. An example is 90Sr
, which behaves chemically like calcium
and can replace the calcium in bones.
Another bone seeker is radium
.
Strontium-90
Strontium-90 is a radioactive isotope of strontium, with a half-life of 28.8 years.-Radioactivity:Natural strontium is nonradioactive and nontoxic, but 90Sr is a radioactivity hazard...
, which behaves chemically like calcium
Calcium
Calcium is the chemical element with the symbol Ca and atomic number 20. It has an atomic mass of 40.078 amu. Calcium is a soft gray alkaline earth metal, and is the fifth-most-abundant element by mass in the Earth's crust...
and can replace the calcium in bones.
Another bone seeker is radium
Radium
Radium is a chemical element with atomic number 88, represented by the symbol Ra. Radium is an almost pure-white alkaline earth metal, but it readily oxidizes on exposure to air, becoming black in color. All isotopes of radium are highly radioactive, with the most stable isotope being radium-226,...
.
See also
- ATC code V10B Pain palliation (bone seeking agents)