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20 November 2008

Answer to Question #5944 Submitted to "Ask the Experts"

Category: Environmental and Background Radiation — Food and the Human Body

The following question was answered by an expert in the appropriate field:

Which foods naturally contain high amounts of radioactivity? I've heard that shellfish and some nuts can be quite radioactive. Are there others and how harmful are these foods for people in contact with large amounts of radiation for medical purposes?

All foods contain varying amounts of radioactivity, but while the levels in some foodstuffs are higher than those in other foodstuffs, there is no cause for concern about eating or other contact with them. The doses that result even from eating large quantities of foodstuffs with high levels of radioactivity are indeed quite low when compared with the doses received from other natural sources of radiation and no cause for concern. Remember the words "high" and "low" are relative terms and need to be qualified; high compared to what and low compared to what? Foods with so-called high levels of radioactivity are not at all harmful because of the radioactivity they contain. So enjoy whatever foods you wish without a care about harm from the radioactivity they contain.

Ronald Kathren, CHP

Answer posted on 16 November 2006. The information and material posted on this Web site is intended as general reference information only. Specific facts and circumstances may alter the concepts and applications of materials and information described herein. The information provided is not a substitute for professional advice and should not be relied upon in the absence of such professional advice specific to whatever facts and circumstances are presented in any given situation. Answers are correct at the time they are posted on the Web site. Be advised that over time, some requirements could change, new data could be made available, or Internet links could change. For answers that have been posted for several months or longer, please check the current status of the posted information prior to using the responses for specific applications.