Health Effects of Strontium

Strontium is an alkaline-earth metal with chemical and physical properties similar to barium and calcium. It is silver-yellow in color and soft. Certain foods contain varying levels of strontium, such as oranges, corn, onions, cabbage, and lettuce. The water-soluble compounds present a greater risk to the health of humans than the water-insoluble compounds.

Lung Cancer

Lung cancer can occur as a result of exposure to strontium. Some of the common symptoms of lung cancer include persistent cough, headache, bone pain, coughing up blood, unintentional weight loss, shortness of breath, wheezing, hoarseness, and chest pain, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Bone Growth and Development

Children who are exposed to high levels of this compound may experience issues with their bone growth. When uptake, or exposure, is extremely high, a disruption in bone development can occur.

Other Health Risks

Other health risks are associated with exposure to strontium. When uptake is very high, people may experience oxygen shortages and anemia. Anemia occurs when the body's tissues do not receive adequate amounts of oxygen due to insufficient amounts of red blood cells. When exposure is extremely high, cancer can occur due to genetic materials in the cells being damaged, says Lenntech.com.

References

• Lenntech: Strontium
• Mayo Clinic: Lung Cancer
• Mayo Clinic: Anemia