18 December 2012, 18:18
The only way I can think of irradiated food causing cancer is the same way radiation does damage to the body.
Radiation damages the body by ionizing water molecules, which are better known as free radicals. The charged particles start damaging cells; damage to DNA may lead to cancerous tissue formation.
If the ionized water molecules in food are ingested, maybe. But I doubt ionized particles stick around for long. Besides, would you rather have botulism or a tiny increase in the chance of getting cancer 10 years from now?
Radiation damages the body by ionizing water molecules, which are better known as free radicals. The charged particles start damaging cells; damage to DNA may lead to cancerous tissue formation.
If the ionized water molecules in food are ingested, maybe. But I doubt ionized particles stick around for long. Besides, would you rather have botulism or a tiny increase in the chance of getting cancer 10 years from now?