RALEIGH, N.C., Oct. 7 (UPI) -- Your fruit is radioactive. In fact, most things are.
Recently, scientists at North Carolina State University set out to gain a better idea of daily radiation exposure experienced by humans. The scientists are hopeful their findings will offer people some perspective and curb the levels of anxiety surrounding exposure to radiation.
"We did this study because understanding how much radiation comes off of common household items helps place radiation readings in context," Robert Hayes, an associate professor of nuclear engineering at N.C. State, said in a news release. "If people understand what trace levels of radiation mean, that understanding may help prevent panic."
Hayes and his colleagues compiled an inventory of the radioactivity of common household objects -- including edible objects like fruit. The scientists measured radiation by microgray per hour, or ¼Gy/hr.
Avocados give off 0.16 ¼Gy/hr of gamma radiation. Bananas give off 0.17 ¼Gy/hr.
"If you're surprised that your fruit is emitting gamma radiation, don't panic," Hayes explained. "The regulatory level for workers -- which is safe -- is exposure to 50,000 ¼Gy per year. The levels we're talking about in your household are incredibly low."
As the new study points out, radiation is everywhere. The bricks in the walls of buildings give off 0.15 ¼Gy/hr. Smoke detectors emit 0.16 ¼Gy/hr.
Hayes' complete list of commonly found radioactive items can be found in the journal Health Physics.
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