Several radioactive isotopes of cesium are produced in the fission of ²³⁵U, including those listed in the table below. These cesium isotopes can pose significant health concerns, in large part because the fact that cesium’s chemical properties are similar to those of sodium or potassium means that cesium can be retained by the body over fairly long times. In the aftermath of the Fukushima earthquake and the ensuing nuclear disaster, many news stories focused on the dangers posed by the release of ¹³⁷Cs. Explain why the ¹³⁷Cs isotope is considered a bigger health threat than any of the other isotopes.

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Isotope 135 CS 136Cs 137 Cs Decay Mode B decay B-decay B decay Half-life 2.3 × 10 years 13.16 days 30.17 years