Advancing environmental safety and public health: a comprehensive review of luminescent probes for radioactive element detection

Recently, radioactive pollutants have garnered significant attention within the realms of environmental science and public safety, such as nuclear energy (e.g., uranium), radiation therapy (e.g., ¹³¹I), and earthquake monitoring (e.g., radon), exerting multifaceted impacts on human health and ecosystems. Therefore, the development of accurate detection technologies for key radioactive elements is of paramount importance and is also an important guarantee for ensuring public safety and comprehensively promoting harmonious coexistence between humans and nature. Luminescent probes represent a class of detection methods for radioactive elements, characterized by high sensitivity, simplicity, and visualization. This article reviews the development and recent advances of luminescent probes for radioactive elements, such as uranium, iodine, strontium, cesium, and radon in the environment, and discusses their application prospects and potential contributions in the fields of environment as well as public safety.