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Case 6

Exterminating the Enemies Food


Irradiation

My experiments proved that the radiation of uranium compounds ... is an atomic


property of the element of uranium. Its intensity is proportional to the quantity of
uranium contained in the compound, and depends neither on conditions of chemical
combination, nor on external circumstances, such as light or temperature.
... The radiation of thorium has an intensity of the same order as that of uranium,
and is, as in the case of uranium, an atomic property of the element.
It was necessary at this point to find a new term to define this new property of
matter manifested by the elements of uranium and thorium. I proposed the word
radioactivity which has since become generally adopted; the radioactive elements
have been called radio elements.
-Marie Curie

Submitted by:
Herwig, Dionne Lara
Ang, Cloei Joy
Mejia, Mark Christian
Alviar, Samantha Gine

1) Liza and Marie knew that they were already subjected into irradiation. Liza and
Marie are microbes present in food which are now subjected to energy of ionizing
radiation which caused them nausea and suffocation. This ionizing radiation breaks
chemical bonds in Liza and Maries molecules that are vital for their growth and
integrity as a result, Liza, Marie and their friends died.
3)

Type of
Radiation
Alpha

Beta

Gamma

Penetrating Power

Ionizing Power

Low penetration,
biggest mass and
charge, stopped by
a few cm of air or
thin sheet of paper.

Very high ionizing


power, the biggest
mass and charge
of the three
radiation.

238
92

Moderate
penetration,
'middle' values of
charge and mass,
most stopped by a
few mm of metals
like aluminum.
Very highly
penetrating,
smallest mass and
charge, most
stopped by a thick
layer of steel or
concrete, but even
a few cm of dense
lead doesn't stop
all of it.

Moderate ionizing
power, with a
smaller mass and
charge than the
alpha particle.

234
90

The lowest ionizing


power of the three,
gamma radiation
carries no electric
charge and has
virtually no mass,
so not much of a
'punch' when
colliding with an
atom.

Example

Th

4
2

234
90

Th

234
91

Pa

He

0
1

14
6

Th

14
17

0
1

N
0
0

4)
Around 50 countries, including the Philippines, have approved irradiated food
products and 32 of these countries are using the technology to treat a variety of
food and food ingredients for commercial purposes, according to the PNRI. In the
Philippines, food irradiation is still in the pilot stage, but fruit irradiation for
quarantine processing to export to the US is expected to take place in the near
future. Other countries like US, China, Belgium, Netherlands, Canada, South Africa,
France, Mexico and South Korea are major users of irradiation technology which
they allow other foods to be irradiated, whereas other countries, such as Denmark,
Germany and Luxembourg remain opposed.

5.
Our group isnt in favor of food irradiation. Although benefits and advantages are
stressed out, natural food is still the best to consume by people and animals. Our
body should receive enough amounts of nutrients from food which is destroyed by
food irradiation. Moreover, irradiated food can cause diseases, illnesses, cancer and
death. Food irradiation is also a big disadvantage to farmers and vendors who plant

and sell food which is not irradiated. Some irradiation power plants are highly
dangerous because radioactive materials are left from the production and
manufacturing of irradiated food.

6.
Other Beneficial Uses of Radiation
a. Medicine drugs that contain radioactive material are important in the diagnosis
and treatment of many diseases like cancer. They can be injected into the body,
inhaled or taken orally as medicines or it can be used to enable imaging of internal
organs and bones.
b. In our homes most first aid kits in our homes contain items sterilized by
radiation, including cotton wool, bandages, and burn dressing.
c. Agriculture radioactive materials are used to improve quality of food crops, and
control pests in fields. They are also used to measure soil moisture content, erosion
rates, salinity and the efficiency of fertilizer uptakes in the soil.

7.
Food irradiation is the process of exposing foodstuffs to a source of energy capable
of stripping electrons from individual atoms in the targeted material (ionizing
radiation). The most common source for irradiating food is radioactive rods culled
from the core of a nuclear reactor. Another source for irradiating food can be
generated electrically.
This treatment is used to preserve food, reduce the risk of food borne illness,
prevent the spread of invasive pests, delay or eliminate sprouting or ripening,
increase yield, and improve re-hydration. It is permitted by over 50 countries, with
500,000 metric tons of foodstuffs annually processed worldwide.

8)
Table I. Detailed list of respondents
N
o
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
1
0
1
1
1
2

Students name

Ag
e
16
17
16
18
16
17
16
17
16
17

Year & Degree Program

Clee Van Jeff Abad


Whitney Faith Lantaca
Jaymark Lahoy
Ruby-Anne Juanito
Jude Christian Herbano
Minerva Gregana
Ghaira Joshlyn Hussin
Kristina Pauline Fernandez
Eva Mae Consolacion
Joie Dela Cruz

Gend
er
M
F
M
F
M
F
F
F
F
M

Christine Mae Autea

17

BS Psychology

Aliagsar, Bahjin

16

BS Psychology

BS
BS
BS
BS
BS
BS
BS
BS
BS
BS

Psychology
Psychology
Psychology
Psychology
Psychology
Psychology
Psychology
Psychology
Psychology
Psychology

1
3
1
4
1
5
1
6
1
7
1
8
1
9
2
0
2
1
2
2
2
3
2
4
2
5
2
6
2
7
2
8
2
9
3
0

Rubilyn Banuag

16

BS Psychology

Fatima Aliriza Aguil

18

BS Psychology

Princess Mae Alcoriza

16

BS Psychology

Mariela Castillo

17

BS Psychology

Christine Dela Llana

15

BS Psychology

Mark John Esguer

16

BS Psychology

Jhun Roy Garbo

17

BS Psychology

Junee Ann Alvarez

18

BS Psychology

Camille Camins

17

BS Psychology

Ronald Dela Torre

17

BS Psychology

Nichol May Fortun

17

BS Psychology

Josella Abaya

16

BS Psychology

Bryner Andad

16

BS Psychology

Marry Jane Bawa-an

18

BS Psychology

Aiko Mejia

21

BS Psychology

Al Mahmud Ishmael

17

BS Psychology

Aljib Abdulpatta

16

BS Psychology

Vanessa De Leon

17

BS Psychology

Question 1:

A. Are you aware of food irradiation?


B. Give a brief description of food irradiation (key words only)
Table II. Survey Summary 1.
Sample
Response
Yes
No
Total

Frequency
1
29

Percent (%)
3.33
96.67
100%

Table 3. Common Descriptions of food irradiation.


N
o
1

Description
Food becomes radioactive

2
3

Exposed to radiation
New technology that innovates the food we have now

Sample
Frequen Perce
cy
nt
13
43.33
%
12
40%
3
10%

Provides new insights about how we prepare food


Total

2
30

6.67
100%

Question 2: Are you in favor of the use of irradiation in your food? Why or
why not?
Table IV. Survey summary 1.
Sample
Response
Yes
No
Total

Frequency
16
14
30

Percent (%)
53.33%
46.67%
100%

Table V. Reasons for favoring/ not favoring food irradiation arranged according to
frequency.
Reasons for Favoring Food Irradiation
(Frequency)
1. It prolongs the shelf life of foods
2. Eradicates the microorganisms in
food
3.
4.

Reasons for Not Favoring Food


Irradiation
(Frequency)
1. It damages the food
2. It has side effects
3. Nutrients are loss since it undergoes
radiation
4. Radioactive materials might still
remain in the food

9)
The Survey we conducted was conducted to know if students are in favor in Food
Irradiation. The survey was a little bit difficult because, majority do not know about
Food Irradiation and how it works. Second, some respondents arent as serious and
eager as we were, and we know we cant please everyone so what we did was
adjustments. We explained the process of Food Irradiation and its good and bad
effects.
About 53.33% of the result answered yes, more than half of the students were in
favor of the use of Food Irradiation. Their reason were partly the same, they said
yes because it helps in prolonging the shelf life of foods. While others said no,
because of its side effects.

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