Calling all Tooth Fairies: The Radiation and Public Health Project (RPHP) wants your children’s baby teeth for their Tooth Fairy Project. The unusual research project measures the levels of strontium-90—a radioactive isotope that deposits itself inside bones and teeth like calcium—to determine the nuclear radiation levels in a given area.
The Radiation and Public Health Project is a watchdog group with an eagle eye on radiation levels, nuclear power plants and the fallout from the Chernobyl disaster. According to RPHP, most of the strontium found in baby teeth is transferred to the fetus during pregnancy by the mother. That’s why they’re looking for baby teeth in particular.
To participate in the Tooth Fairy Project, follow the link below.
Tooth Fairy Activism
RPHP Uses Baby Teeth to Detect Local Radiation Levels
Trend Themes
1. Tooth Fairy Project - Using baby teeth to measure nuclear radiation levels can lead to disruptive innovation opportunities in the fields of radiation detection and public health monitoring.
2. Strontium-90 Detection - Developing new methods to detect levels of strontium-90 in bones and teeth can disrupt the fields of environmental monitoring and nuclear safety.
3. Radiation Watchdog Groups - The rise of radiation watchdog groups can disrupt the energy industry by advocating for greater safety standards and monitoring.
Industry Implications
1. Environmental Monitoring - The use of baby teeth to detect radiation levels presents a new opportunity for the environmental monitoring industry.
2. Public Health - The Tooth Fairy Project can lead to greater public health monitoring and awareness of nuclear radiation exposure.
3. Energy - Radiation watchdog groups like RPHP can disrupt the energy industry by calling for greater safety standards and monitoring.