Strontium-90 in newborns and childhood disease

Radioactive strontium-90 concentrations in baby teeth obtained from Suffolk County, New York, rose steadily during the 1980s. Recent levels of stronti um-90 are similar to those reported for babies born in the late 1950s-at th e height of atmospheric nuclear weapons testing in Nevada. Strontium-90 con centrations increased concomitantly with increases in cancer incidence amon g Suffolk children under the age of 5 y, a result that mimicked parallel tr ends observed in the 1950s and early 1960s. Given that effects of strontium -90 on developing cells are most pronounced during the fetal and infant per iods, escalating levels should be viewed as a factor in the recent decline in various child health status measures.