Radioactivity and food

Journal Article · Thu Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1990 · Boletin de la Oficina Sanitaria Panamericana; (USA)

OSTI ID:6519938

Olszyna-Marzys, A E ^[1]

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1. Laboratorio Unificado de Control de Alimentos y Medicamentos (LUCAM) (Guatemala)

Two topics relating to radioactivity and food are discussed: food irradiation for preservation purposes, and food contamination from radioactive substances. Food irradiation involves the use of electromagnetic energy (x and gamma rays) emitted by radioactive substances or produced by machine in order to destroy the insects and microorganisms present and prevent germination. The sanitary and economic advantages of treating food in this way are discussed. Numerous studies have confirmed that under strictly controlled conditions no undesirable changes take place in food that has been irradiated nor is radioactivity induced. Reference is made to the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power station, which aroused public concern about irradiated food. The events surrounding the accident are reviewed, and its consequences with regard to contamination of different foods with radioactive substances, particularly iodine-131 and cesium-137, are described. Also discussed are the steps that have been taken by different international organizations to set limits on acceptable radioactivity in food.15 references.

• OSTI ID: 6519938
• Journal Information: Boletin de la Oficina Sanitaria Panamericana; (USA), Journal Name: Boletin de la Oficina Sanitaria Panamericana; (USA) Vol. 108:3; ISSN BOSPA; ISSN 0030-0632
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: Spanish

Related Subjects

553004 -- Agriculture & Food Technology-- Food Protection & Preservation-- (1987-)
560162* -- Radionuclide Effects
Kinetics
& Toxicology-- Animals
Plants
Microorganisms
& Cells
60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ALKALI METAL ISOTOPES
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
CESIUM 137
CESIUM ISOTOPES
CONTAMINATION
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
DOCUMENT TYPES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
FALLOUT
FOOD
GAMMA RADIATION
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
IODINE 131
IODINE ISOTOPES
IONIZING RADIATIONS
IRRADIATION
ISOTOPES
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
PRESERVATION
RADIATIONS
RADIOISOTOPES
RADIOPRESERVATION
REVIEWS
X RADIATION
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES