Federal Office warns against Brazil nuts due to radioactivity
The Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS) recommends that children, pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers should not eat Brazil nuts. These could contain high levels of radioactive radium, the Federal Office announced on Tuesday. Other types of nuts, especially domestic ones, are not affected.
Brazil nut trees grow in tropical rainforests in South America. The BfS explained that the soil there naturally contains large amounts of radium. The radioactive element is absorbed through the roots and transported in the tree to the nuts.
According to the Federal Office, it is generally safe for adults to consume Brazil nuts in moderation. For children, however, the same amount could lead to a significantly higher radiation dose: Radium, like calcium, is deposited in teeth and bones - and these are still being formed in children. Unborn children and infants absorb the radioactive substance via the placenta and breast milk.
According to the BfS, a person in Germany absorbs a comparatively low annual radiation dose of around 300 microsieverts through food. "Even the regular consumption of small quantities of Brazil nuts can significantly increase this value," it said. "An adult who eats an average of two Brazil nuts a day for a year, for example, receives an additional radiation dose of around 160 microsieverts."
Due to the high levels of radioactive radium in Brazil nuts, the Federal Office for Radiation Protection advises against their consumption by children, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers. This is because radium, similar to calcium, gets deposited in children's developing teeth and bones, potentially leading to higher radiation doses.
Dietary guidelines regarding nutrition for children should consider the potential health implications of consuming Brazil nuts due to their radioactive content, emphasizing the need for alternative sources of nutrients in their diets.
Source: www.dpa.com
