3 ms·

That’s not true. Potassium is an essential mineral and our bodies are composed of it.

• gcanyon 5y ago
  That doesn't change the fact that some potassium, in particular potassium-40, is radioactive, even in bananas, even in people: https://xkcd.com/radiation/ https://xkcd.com/radiation/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banana_equivalent_dose https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banana_equivalent_dose
  • Robotbeat 5y ago
    Of course not. My whole point is that potassium, which is (except for extreme cases) radioactive due to Potassium-40, is an essential part of the human body. It does not “wash out.” Carbon itself is also radioactive, containing Carbon-14 that decays over time. Life and our bodies are and have been bathed in carcinogenic radiation (as well as other carcinogenic and DNA-damaging environmental factors) since the beginning of life on Earth. Every time you go outside, you are exposed to ultraviolet radiation on your skin and when you’re inside, cement and granite countertops and nuts and bananas expose you to radiation as well. It’s inescapable. So an extremist perspective on artificial radiation where even its detection is considered harmful is just innumerate and scientifically illiterate. It’s a kind of superstition if not related to levels of naturally occurring radiation.
    • gcanyon 5y ago
      Sorry, didn’t see this until now. To be clear, I’m arguing that the radiation in honey is almost certainly not of concern. I think we’re on the same side. That said, radium bioaccumulates because it subs in for calcium. You are over 2% calcium by weight, but you only take in about 0.1% of that mass per day. Potassium is about 0.2% of you, and you take in 2-3% of that daily. Meaning that radium almost certainly more dangerous to you than potassium.