[MamaDearest]

In outlying areas, say 50-150 miles away, would radiation fallout permeate canned foods? I don't know what made me think of that, but now I am curious. I guess I need to read more about Chernobyl.

[brucecw]

In outlying areas, say 50-150 miles away, would radiation fallout permeate canned foods?

In general radiation won't damage canned goods - but if you think that the surface of the can might be contaminated, wash it off before opening it.

Of course if the can gets hot enough to damage the seal that's a different question - but that would be heat, not radiation. There's also some question about what happens to food that's heavily irradiated - some scientists think that some of the high-energy radiation may in some cases cause undesirable chemical (not radiological) changes in the food - that's part of the controversy about the safety of preserving food by irradating it. If there's an effect there it's in the category of things where you want to avoid long-term exposure, not that would be immediately dangerous.

Fresh foods would be much more problematic - also canned foods that were canned within the area that had been irradiated but after the radiation leak. Milk is a particular concern after major radiation leakage.

[judicial meanz]

Reference post 198:

Should be ok at that range mama...

Depends on a lot of variables, including wind direction, fallout deposit and the force of the blast. But with the type of weapons being discussed here, it wouldnt be a factor.

Something in the 20 MT range upwind may be however.

[Donna Lee Nardo]

Canned goods would be ok.