Bananas are naturally slightly radioactive due to the presence of potassium-40, a naturally occurring radioactive isotope. Potassium-40 is the most abundant radioisotope in the human body and is found in trace amounts in all living things, including bananas. The amount of radiation emitted by potassium-40 in a banana is extremely small, amounting to about 0.1 percent of the average daily dose of radiation a person encounters from natural and man-made sources. The radiation emitted by a banana is so small, in fact, that it is not even detectable by any standard radiation detector. Bananas are not the only food that contains potassium-40. Other foods, such as avocados, potatoes, and squash, also contain small amounts of the isotope. Potassium-40 is also found in the environment, in soil, rocks, and water.
The human body absorbs the potassium-40 from these sources and other foods, so it is impossible to avoid exposure to the isotope altogether. The amount of radiation emitted by a banana is so minuscule that it would take more than 3000 bananas in a single sitting to equal the amount of radiation a person is exposed to during a typical chest X-ray. Furthermore, the radiation emitted by a banana is not strong enough to cause any harm to humans. In fact, the radiation emitted by a banana is about a million times weaker than the radiation emitted by a medical X-ray. The small amount of radiation emitted by a banana is not something to worry about. In fact, the radiation emitted by a banana is so small that it is not even detectable. Moreover, the radiation emitted by bananas is not strong enough to cause any harm to humans. Eating bananas is still a healthy option, as they are rich in many essential vitamins and minerals. So, while bananas may be slightly radioactive, they still remain a safe and healthy snack.