There is actually a thriving wildlife population living in the 30 km
exclusion zone around Chernobyl (Google "Chernobyl wildlife"). Mankind
has a good chance of surviving if they don't starve to death because of
a nuclear winter.
Radiation comes in 3 flavors: gamma (hard x-rays), beta (fast electrons)
and alpha (helium nuclei). Strontium-90 is a beta emitter and is
chemically similar to calcium, so it accumulates in the bones.
Cesium-137 is chemically similar to potassium and accumulates in soft
tissue. It emits beta and gamma radiation. Beta radiation has a reach
of about 9 m in air and 1 cm in water. So there is a significant
difference if radiation is emitted inside or outside of the body. Randy
is right. Bees would not accumulate as much strontium as mammals. But
they still would suffer a nuclear winter.
***********************************************
The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html