eli5: Himalayan salt contains minerals like Potassium which give it’s Pink Color. Does that mean that a chunk of it would be radioactive to a small degree, like a banana?
In: Earth Science
Fun fact, because Himalayan salt contains several impurities(mostly extra iron and lithium) it is actually a worse form of salt when compared to super cheap basic table salt.
Gotta love hipsters being coned.
As some one who just owns a Geiger counter for fun. I will say almost nothing that is trace radioactive is even worth caring about. I tried bananas, nuts and fish. Nothing really adds more than 30% of my very low background rate. Now taking it to the beach was a different story saw almost a 3 fold jump in background from like 12 clicks min to 30+ that’s because granite sand has a little uranium and it’s fission decay products are much more likely to be detected when they aren’t stuck in a giant rock. The other place I saw a notable increase is hepa filter’s around 7 clicks min after a few months use. People are too I add 2 clicks and my wife adds 3 in-between us in bed gets 4 extra clicks per minute. Also found a rock in my basement that adds 12clicks but only if I leave the counter on said rock. Ps I would gladly bring that rock up and sleep with it the cancer risk is negligible at that level.
Most salt contain potassium, as iodide. Only one isotope of potassium is radioactive, K-40, and that’s usually less than 0.01% of all K atoms, so you’ll be pretty safe.
Himalayan sea salt is pink because of iron oxide (rust) and only has trace elements of potassium, and not potassium 40. There’s more lithium (which moderates mood) and in some cases lead in Himalayan salt than potassium
Latest Answers