Getting To Know Cs-137, A Dangerous Vitamin Found In Serang Banten

The sealing of the area contains cesium-137 radioactiveity by the Director General of Law Enforcement of the Ministry of Environment at a factory in Cikande, Serang Regency, Thursday (11/9/2025). (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The discovery of Cesium-137 (Cs-137) radioactive material in the Cikande industrial area, Serang, Banten, raises concerns. This hazardous substance is known to not naturally exist in the environment, but comes from industrial and nuclear residue activities.

The case in Serang is a reminder that radiation exposure, although not visible, can have a long-term impact on human health and environmental sustainability.

According to the Nuclear Energy Supervisory Agency (Bapeten), Cs-137 is an artificial substance used in the industrial world, including for measurements of density and flow. This substance is not naturally formed in the environment, so it is clear that contamination comes from industrial equipment or waste.

The Director of Inspection of the Bapeten Radioactive Radiation and Substance Facilities, Zulkarnain, said that some of the hazardous materials had been used by residents without knowing the risks. The residual radioactive material was found to be a mixture of building foundations. Whereas Cs-137 is a category of ionizing radiation that is dangerous for health in the long term.

On the other hand, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Cs-137, which is tied to chloride, will form crystalline powder with a kitchen salt-like nature.

This character makes it easy to move through air, dissolve in water, and stick strongly to the ground or concrete surface.

Plants growing in polluted land can also absorb this substance in small quantities, paving the way for Cs-137 to enter the food chain, including fisheries, a vital sector for Indonesian exports.

Historically, traces of Cs-137 are usually found due to nuclear weapons tests or reactor accidents. In normal amounts in nature, the levels are very small. However, findings in Serang confirm the risk of leakage or misuse of radioactive material beyond the control of civilian nuclear authorities.

In the medical and industrial world, Cs-137 does have an important function. On a small scale, this substance is used to calibrate radiation detection devices such as the GEORGE-Mueller counter. On a larger scale, Cs-137 is used in cancer radiation therapy, as well as in the industrial sector to measure metal thickness or fluid flow in pipes.

Problems arise when these substances escape uncontrollably. The EPA records that exposure to Cs-137 in high doses can cause radiation burns, acute radiation syndrome, and even death. The Cs-137 emitted gamma radiation also increases the risk of cancer.

If you enter the body through contaminated food, drink, or air, Cs-137 will spread to soft tissues, especially muscles, triggering exposure to long-lasting internal radiation.

"This condition increases the potential for cancer due to exposure to radiation energy in the body taking place from time to time," according to the EPA, as quoted by ANTARA.