Radioactivity of Food
Radioactivity of food is due to accumulations of Ra226,
Th232, K40, C14
and H3. It contributes about 20 mrem/year to the the
total dose from natural radiation sources.
According to the USDOE -
Radiation in the Environment,
the following activities can be found in food items:
| Salad Oil |
4,900 |
pCi/l |
| Milk |
1,400 |
pCi/l |
| Whiskey |
1,200 |
pCi/l |
| Beer |
390 |
pCi/l |
| Tap Water |
20 |
pCi/l |
|
----------------
|
|
| Brazil Nuts |
14.00 |
pCi/g |
| Bananas |
3.00 |
pCi/g |
| Tea |
0.40 |
pCi/g |
| Flour |
0.14 |
pCi/g |
| Peanuts, Peanut butter |
0.12 |
pCi/g |
According to other sources:
- Bananas
- The "average" banana contains 400 mg of Potassium, which
leads to a radioactivity of 0.3 nCi.
- Brazil Nuts
- Brazil nuts contain Radium that causes an activity of 0.2 to 7 pCi/g.
80% of the samples of one study had a radioactivity of over 1 pCi/g.
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