Health risk? Numerous radioactive substances in food

Study investigates food for contained radioactive material
Most consumers are probably aware that food may be contaminated with pollutants. However, only few think of radioactive substances. But these are also found in very low concentrations in our food. The health risk posed by radioactive substances in food will be examined by the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) and the Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS) within the scope of the BfR-MEAL study.

"Even if radiation-emitting radioactive elements such as uranium are only found in small quantities in foods, the chemical properties and radioactive radiation of the substances could pose a risk if they are taken up over a longer period of time and in higher concentrations," explains Professor Dr , Dr. Andreas Hensel, President of the BfR. The actual risk should therefore be investigated in a comprehensive study. The BfS and the BfR will collect further data for the risk assessment, says Prof. Hensel.

The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment and the Federal Office for Radiation Protection investigate the contamination of food with radioactive substances. (Image: M.studio/fotolia.com)

Examination for radiation
The study aims to investigate prepared foods for radiation through radioactive elements such as uranium, the BfR reports. In particular, foodstuffs that are the most consumed by the German population would be considered. These include cereal-based foods as well as vegetables and potatoes, dairy, meat and fish. For the first time, the BfR-MEAL study in Germany examines foodstuffs for various substances, such as nutrients, heavy metals or additives, in order to determine average concentrations of these substances in the average human diet, according to the BfR.

Risks so far unclear
Of the foods that are prepared in a separate study kitchen household-typical, the BfS will receive selected food samples for the study of various natural radionuclides such as uranium, radium-226, radium-228 or lead-210. "Humans can not perceive or detect radioactivity with their sense organs," emphasizes Wolfram König, President of the Federal Office for Radiation Protection. Therefore, citizens rely on verified and reliable data. "The joint study should help to better understand, compare and classify possible or negligible risks," said the BfS President.

Radioactive elements can occur everywhere
The selection of foods was made by the BfS on the basis of the National Consumption Study II and includes mainly cereal products, vegetables, potatoes, dairy products, meat and fish. The background to this is that natural radionuclides in various concentrations and compounds in rocks and minerals occur everywhere in the environment and can therefore also be contained in foods, according to the BfR. The various food samples are therefore examined by the BfS for radioactive elements and based on the measurement results of the samples, a dose estimation for the population should be made.

The BfR-MEAL study is carried out on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) and is designed for a period of seven years. Essentially, the entire German food range is considered, with the aim of obtaining information about the concentrations of various substances in foods consumed by consumers for the first time in Germany, BfR reports. (Fp)