Some radioactive decomposition products, such as formaldehyde, benzene, formic acid and quinones, are very harmful to human health-benzene is a carcinogen. Radiation can also promote the growth of aflatoxin, which is one of the chief culprits of liver cancer.

Moreover, radiation can also destroy vitamins (vitamins A, B 1, B2, B3, B6, B 12, folic acid, C, E and K), amino acids and unsaturated fatty acids in food. Depending on the amount of radiation, 20-80% of the above nutrients will be destroyed. Radiation can also kill bacteria in food that are beneficial to human health. These bacteria can increase the taste of food and naturally control the growth of harmful bacteria. Therefore, when food is exposed to nuclear radiation, its taste will also deteriorate. Radiation can also cause mutations in bacteria and viruses in food, making them immune to antibiotics and becoming superbugs.

More seriously, radioactive substances will pollute the whole food chain. For example, a sardine is polluted. When it is eaten by tuna, tuna is also polluted. By analogy, animals in the whole food chain will be polluted. Similarly, if radioactive substances fall on the grass, cows eat contaminated grass and drink milk from contaminated cows, radioactive substances will also enter the human body.