Which of the following radioactive substances enters/enter the human body through food chain and causes/cause many physiological disorders?

Radioactive substances like Strontium-90, Iodine-131, and Cesium-137 enter the human body through the food chain, often originating from nuclear fallout or industrial discharge [4]. Iodine-131 is highly volatile and contaminates vegetation, which is then consumed by cattle; it subsequently appears in milk and accumulates in the human thyroid gland, causing serious damage and increasing cancer risks, particularly in children [5]. Strontium-90 and Cesium-137 are long-lived radionuclides that bioaccumulate in the food chain [3]. Strontium-90 acts as a bone-seeker, depositing in bone marrow and the skeletal system [7]. Cesium-137, a potassium analogue, is easily absorbed by plants and animals, leading to widespread contamination of agricultural products like meat, milk, and grains [6]. These substances undergo biological magnification, reaching peak concentrations in humans at the top of the food chain and causing various physiological disorders [2].

Sources

1. [4] https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2015-05/documents/frc_rpt7.pdf
2. [1] Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 29: Environment Issues and Health Effects > 2g.t.2.Iodine - r+ > p. 413
3. [5] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0265931X19306897
4. [3] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6072634/
5. [7] https://inl.gov/content/uploads/2023/07/Chapter-07_FINAL.pdf
6. [2] Science , class X (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 13: Our Environment > 13.1.1 Food Chains and Webs > p. 212
7. [6] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK585723/