Why is it that no one dares to swim in this beautiful beach?

Areia Preta beach in the city of Guarapari (Brazil) is famous not because it is an ideal tourist destination, but with radiation nearly 400 times higher than normal standards.

Brazil is a country that is always famous for its "blue sea and white sand", along with a coastline stretching hundreds of kilometers that has attracted tourists from all over the world. Yet, there is no beach quite like "Praia Da" Areia Preta, in Guarapari.

Areia Prata beach with enough gamma radiation to pose a serious danger to tourists.

Ever since then, the sand in this area, especially the black sand, contains a lot of monazite, a phosphate-rich mineral, and a number of rare earth elements, including uranium and thorium.

Research has shown that background radiation on Areia Preta can reach 175 mSv per year, or 20 μSv/h, while some spots, especially those covered by black sand, have radiation levels up up to 55 μSv/h.

For comparison, the average radiation exposure across the US is about 0.34 μSv/h/Meanwhile, radiography (X-rays) exposes people to about 100 μSv of radiation.

Where does the black sand at Areia Preta beach come from?

The monazite-rich black sands of the Guarapari region were first noticed in 1880, by the Austrian scientist Carl Auer von Welsbach. At the time, he was looking for thorium material for his newly invented incandescent coatings, and monazite sand was seen as a perfect source.

Scientists think that ocean waves are constantly pounding the coastal mountains rich in monazite, and some radioactive compounds have washed ashore as black sand. This is exactly why the beaches of Guarapari have this special sand.

In 1972, the application of monazite sand in the field of treatment was first introduced by Dr. Silva Mello. At the time, a therapy called "radioactive sand" which she claimed could treat many health problems, including rheumatism.

As a result, to this day, thousands of tourists still flock to these particular beaches, hoping to heal themselves by lying or even covering themselves with radioactive sand, ignoring the danger. of prolonged exposure to radiation.

Is radioactive sand dangerous?

Studies suggest that the dose of gamma radiation on Areia Preta beach is equivalent to the vicinity (about 1 square kilometer) of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.

Fifty years after Silva Mello's announcement of the benefits of monazite sand, many people in Brazil still believe that exposure to sand is actually good for their health. Guarapari's tourism industry has certainly benefited from this story, and the city bears the nickname "The Healthy City" with pride, despite the controversy surrounding the effects of sand exposure.

It is known that most areas of Guarapari have relatively low background radiation levels, with an average of 0.6 μSv/h, and do not pose any threat to health. With beaches like Areia Preta, however, it's a completely different matter.

For years, research has shown that the gamma radiation on Areia Preta beach alone is enough to pose a serious danger to tourists.

A 2002 study found that the dose of gamma radiation on Areia Preta beach was equivalent to the dose in the vicinity (about 1 square kilometer) of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.

The study's authors point out that although the radionuclide composition of the two sites is certainly different, the gamma radiation on Areia Preta makes it imperative for anyone visiting the site to wear protective equipment. .

According to the report, radiation absorbed through the skin can increase the risk of skin cancer, while inhaled radioactive compounds can cause lung cancer. It is for these reasons that the Brazilian Nuclear Agency does not recommend that visitors spend too much time on radioactive beaches like Areia Preta.