Post by account_disabled on Mar 10, 2024 4:10:55 GMT -5
American honey has traces of radioactive fallout.
Between and , the United States, the USSR and other countries detonated more than , nuclear explosions around the world. More than nuclear weapons were tested in the air. These bombs spewed radiocesium, cesium-, into the atmosphere, and would soon fall back to earth with rain unevenly depending on the region's climate.
Now, according to a new study published in Nature Communications, scientists have discovered that the consequences of nuclear bomb tests from this era can be found in US honey.
This shows that even after years after these nuclear tests, radioactive fallout is still around us in some way, traveling through plants and animals in nature.
Polluted water from Fuku Phone Number List shima nuclear power plant will be released into the ocean
radioactive fallout.
Radiocesium in nature due to radioactive fallout?
But how does such a thing happen? It's actually quite simple: since radiocesium is water-soluble and shares similar chemical properties with potassium, plants can confuse the two.
In an attempt to understand whether plants still continue to absorb radiocesium, James Kaste, a geologist at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, instructed his students to bring local foods from their spring break destinations, according to a statement from university press. His samples would be analyzed for radiocesium.
Tests showed that honey from Raleigh, North Carolina, contained times higher levels of cesium than other foods. To study this further and test for radiocesium, Kaste and her colleagues collected samples of locally produced raw honey from across the eastern US.
Radiocesium was detected in of the samples, at levels greater than becquerels per kilogram, which means approximately , radiocesium atoms per tablespoon. A sample from Florida had becquerels per kilogram, which was the highest level of radioactivity for this sample study.
radioactive fallout.
Should you be worried?
Before you panic, you should know that current levels of radioactivity are not considered dangerous. The United States allows , becquerels per kilogram in all foods, and the levels of radiocesium detailed in this new study "are not of concern," the US Food and Drug Administration told Science.
However, it should also be noted that radioactivity levels may have been higher and potentially more dangerous to human health and other organisms in the s and s, as radiocesium decays over time. The researchers want to use this study to highlight the long-term environmental impacts of the contaminants since, although it cannot be said with certainty, cesium- could have had effects on the collapse of bees and the decline of bee populations. .
Between and , the United States, the USSR and other countries detonated more than , nuclear explosions around the world. More than nuclear weapons were tested in the air. These bombs spewed radiocesium, cesium-, into the atmosphere, and would soon fall back to earth with rain unevenly depending on the region's climate.
Now, according to a new study published in Nature Communications, scientists have discovered that the consequences of nuclear bomb tests from this era can be found in US honey.
This shows that even after years after these nuclear tests, radioactive fallout is still around us in some way, traveling through plants and animals in nature.
Polluted water from Fuku Phone Number List shima nuclear power plant will be released into the ocean
radioactive fallout.
Radiocesium in nature due to radioactive fallout?
But how does such a thing happen? It's actually quite simple: since radiocesium is water-soluble and shares similar chemical properties with potassium, plants can confuse the two.
In an attempt to understand whether plants still continue to absorb radiocesium, James Kaste, a geologist at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, instructed his students to bring local foods from their spring break destinations, according to a statement from university press. His samples would be analyzed for radiocesium.
Tests showed that honey from Raleigh, North Carolina, contained times higher levels of cesium than other foods. To study this further and test for radiocesium, Kaste and her colleagues collected samples of locally produced raw honey from across the eastern US.
Radiocesium was detected in of the samples, at levels greater than becquerels per kilogram, which means approximately , radiocesium atoms per tablespoon. A sample from Florida had becquerels per kilogram, which was the highest level of radioactivity for this sample study.
radioactive fallout.
Should you be worried?
Before you panic, you should know that current levels of radioactivity are not considered dangerous. The United States allows , becquerels per kilogram in all foods, and the levels of radiocesium detailed in this new study "are not of concern," the US Food and Drug Administration told Science.
However, it should also be noted that radioactivity levels may have been higher and potentially more dangerous to human health and other organisms in the s and s, as radiocesium decays over time. The researchers want to use this study to highlight the long-term environmental impacts of the contaminants since, although it cannot be said with certainty, cesium- could have had effects on the collapse of bees and the decline of bee populations. .
