2023-11-29 12:15:06
According to the recommendation of the Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS), children, pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers should not eat Brazil nuts. The Federal Office announced on Tuesday that these could contain high amounts of radioactive radium. Other types of nuts, particularly domestic ones, are not affected.
Brazil nut trees grow in tropical rainforests in South America. The BfS explained that there are soils there that naturally contain large amounts of radium. The radioactive element is absorbed through the roots and transported through the tree to the nuts.
Sascha Zoske Published/Updated: , Hildegard Willer Published/Updated: , Recommendations: 7 Stefanie Diemand Published/Updated: Recommendations: 26
The radioactive contamination of Brazil nuts has been known for a long time. During Advent they are often included in nut mixtures. It is generally safe for adults to consume Brazil nuts in moderation, according to the Federal Office. In children, however, the same amount can lead to a significantly higher radiation dose: radium, like calcium, is stored in teeth and bones – and these are still developing in children. Unborn children and infants absorb the radioactive material through the placenta and breast milk.
According to BfS information, a person in Germany absorbs a comparatively low annual radiation dose of around 300 microsieverts with their food. “Even regular consumption of small amounts of Brazil nuts can noticeably increase this value,” it said. “For example, if an adult eats an average of two Brazil nuts a day for a year, they will receive an additional radiation dose of around 160 microsieverts.”
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