ABSTRACT
Abstract: As described in the previous chapter, irradiation of any material leads to the deposition of energy in that material. The deposited energy can cause chemical reactions, as demonstrated by chemical dose meters. If the irradiated material is a food, chemical changes in that food must be expected, to an extent that increases with increasing radiation dose. Consideration of the radiation-induced chemical changes is an important part of evaluating the safety of consumption of irradiated foods.
Before describing the very complex events which take place when foodstuffs are irradiated, some concepts and terminology will be introduced via discussion of the radiation chemistry of the simplest organic compound, methane (CH4).
