Key Facts about: Radioactivity
Natural sources: Food and drink
United Kingdom
Food and drink can contain sources of radioactivity. Ingestion and inhalation of long-lived natural radionuclides are estimated to give rise to an average annual dose of 0.27 millisieverts (mSv)
Doses to individual members of the population from natural radionuclides, vary from 0.1 mSv to 1 mSv depending on the type and quantity of food and drink consumed:
- high rate consumers of shellfish, which contain elevated levels of the polonium radionuclide 210Po, can receive annual doses up to 0.5 mSv
- among other foodstuffs, Brazil nuts contain some of the highest levels of natural radioactivity, in particular radium-226 (226Ra) and radium-228 (228Ra)
- - the consumption of a 100g bag (about 30-40 nuts) per week throughout the year would give rise to an annual dose of 0.2 mSv
In addition to food, another source of natural radionuclides is drinks of which water is a major component.
The 1993 World Health Organisation's guideline value is 0.1 Bequerel per litre (Bq/l) for total alpha and 1 Bq/l for total beta activity. Samples are taken by water companies in England and Wales of various types of sources of water prior to treatment (and four treated water supplies) and are monitored for Defra:
- in 2000 all results were below the guideline value of 0.1Bq/l
In Detail:
Natural Sources of radiation: Food and drink as sources of radiation
Further Information:
- Source:
- Defra
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Page last modified: 16 September 2003
Page published: 10 September 2003