Higher Risk of Health Problems for Radio-Contaminated Food Consumption by Human Population Suffering Protein-Calorie Malnutrition and Environmental Chemical Pollution

Abstract

The incidence of contaminants in many food commodities including: Pathogenic organisms, parasites, insects, chemical residues, and radio-nuclides contribute seriously to the high rate of risk imposed on a vast sector of population suffering protein – calorie malnutrition. Radionuclide contaminants in different food stuffs originate from various sources including nuclear test explosions, nuclear accident, nuclear wastes, and radioactive material encountered in technologies of nuclear fuel cycle. Both internal radioactive contamination as well as protein calorie-malnutrition exert damaging effects on the human genome and retard the repair mechanism in human living cells. The synergistic effect of both incidences contributes to the aggravation of cellular damage and suppression of repair mechanisms. It is ethically recommended to revise the safety level for internal radio-­contamination in human subjects suffering health problems including protein calorie malnutrition, parasitic infestations, and heavy environmental pollution prevailing in many developing nations.