Irradiation is a process where goods are quickly passed through a strong beam of ionizing gamma radiation for the purpose of sterilization, sometimes referred to as "cold pasteurization-. Currently many products are sterilized using irradiation, such as baby-bottle nipples, cosmetics, bandages, tampons, contact lens cleaning fluids, juice and milk cartons and wine corks as there is absolutely no residual radiation left over. Since it is widely agreed that there is no residual radiation, one might ask why this is such a controversial issue. This is because, other than destroying all living organisms exposed, the radiation is said to alter the molecular structure of food, producing small amounts of potentially harmful organic compounds such as formaldehyde. It is also said that irradiating food decreases the nutritional value, and slightly alters the taste in some foods. Other concerns include worker safety and the environment.
Hypothesis: Irradiating food is safe and beneficial to the world population.
The stigma associated with radiation is partially responsible for public concern. However radiation must be thought of as any other natural process. Any time food undergoes a chemical process such as combustion, the molecular structure is altered. Irradiating food theoretically could destroy all harmful bacteria and would allow tremendous amounts of food to be stockpiled without becoming spoiled. An entire bushel of potatoes could be treated, stored for ten years, and eaten just as if it was harvested yesterday. ßwow!! It kills molds, bacteria (such as deadly E. coli), and small insects while leaving the food virtually unchanged. The benefits tremendously outweigh the drawbacks. Worker safety is another concern, ; however there are many jobs in which workers are exposed to dangerous conditions and contamination problems are nearly non-existed. .
The radiation source, usually medical grade cobalt-60ßcomma could in no way be used to create nuclear weapons, and as for waste disposal, cries are only heard from extreme environmentalists.
