Bananas that are radioactive? This sounds alarming at first, but it is a natural phenomenon and is not usually something to worry about. In this article we will explain exactly what bananas have to do with radioactivity.
Bananas are one of the most popular fruits in Germany: Germans eat between 10 and 12 kilos per capita every year. This is shown by statistics that recorded consumption in the period from 2006 to 2021. Bananas also have a good reputation in terms of health: They are rich in various vitamins and also contain high amounts of potassium and magnesium, among other things.
What many do not know, however, is that bananas are always slightly radioactive. However, this is not because they are exposed to radioactive radiation, but because of a specific ingredient. And while that sounds alarming, radioactive bananas do not pose a health hazard under normal circumstances.
Bananas are radioactive – but why?
(Photo: CC0 / Pixabay / ajcespedes)
The reason bananas are radioactive is their high potassium content. Potassium is an important mineral for us, which naturally always has a small proportion of the radioactive isotope potassium-40. The Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility (CCNR) shows how small this proportion actually is: it is only 120 parts per million. The proportions of non-radioactive isotopes such as potassium-39 and potassium-41 are significantly larger in comparison.
Due to its weak radioactivity, the banana can even serve as a unit of measurement: a so-called “banana equivalent dose” corresponds to about 0.1 microsievert. Your body gets this dose when you eat a banana.
Potassium is not only ingested from outside through food, it is also a natural part of the human body. Animals also have their own body potassium. Thus, all living things are slightly radioactive.
Nevertheless, isn’t it dangerous to give the body more radioactive potassium-40 through food than it already contains?
That’s why radioactive bananas are harmless
(Photo: CC0 / Pixabay / Redfam)
The radioactive isotope found in bananas is usually harmless to health. If the body is additionally supplied with potassium-40 from the outside – for example by eating bananas – it simply compensates for this extra portion: It then reduces the proportion of endogenous potassium-40 by about the same amount that it has taken in from the outside. Thus, the potassium level stays at about the same level and does not increase appreciably. This balancing process of the body is technically known as homeostasis.
If you eat bananas in normal amounts, you don’t have to worry about damage from radioactive potassium. Nevertheless, bananas can be contaminated with harmful substances – chemical-synthetic pesticides, which are mostly used in conventional cultivation, can be found on the skin in particular. You can avoid them by buying organically grown bananas with an organic seal. For example, the seals of Demeter, Bioland and Naturland stand for high standards.
The eco-balance of bananas is fundamentally problematic because they have to be imported from distant countries and travel long distances accordingly. This creates large amounts of CO2. Against this background, you should consciously enjoy bananas from time to time and otherwise use regional fruit more often.
By the way, conscious consumption also includes being aware of the circumstances of cultivation. On many banana plantations these are problematic and include, among other things, poor wages and working conditions. If you do not want to support such conditions, you can look for the Fairtrade seal when shopping. It shows you that the bananas are fair trade.
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