Bananas: A Radioactive Snack? Analyzing the Science of Potassium-40

Bananas are indeed radioactive, but it’s a totally harmless form of radiation! This occurs because bananas contain a naturally occurring isotope of potassium called potassium-40 (K-40). Potassium is an important element for our bodies, & about 0.012% of all potassium is the radioactive K-40 isotope. Potassium-40 is very unstable, and over time it decays, emitting radiation in the form of beta particles. This process, known as beta decay happens very slowly and then produces extremely low levels of radiation, far below the threshold that can harm a human. To put it in conclusion, the amount of radiation you get from eating a banana is so minimal that it is often used as a fun comparison to measure radiation exposure. It's unit of measurement for radiation is called the “banana equivalent dose” (BED), where one banana provides a dose of about 0.1 microsieverts (µSv) of radiation. To put this in context, a chest X-ray might deliver around 100 µSv—so eating a banana is harmless in terms of radiation exposure. Bananas’ radioactive nature is just 1 of those quirky facts about the natural world, and it’s an example of how even everyday foods can have wonderful scientific properties! READ MORE :- Miraculous Benefits Of Consuming One Banana Everyday!

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Bananas: A Radioactive Snack? Analyzing the Science of Potassium-40

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