>>8789642>you need particle radiation to change a nucleus and thus make other atoms radioactive?I won't give a physics lesson here, it is not the board for it, and I hate typing to much. Simply though, when it comes to organic molecules like DNA the high energy neutrons given off by a radioactive source will mostly destroy the CHEMICAL bonds, not nuclear, and turn shit to mush. It is a fascinating and terrifying subject that there is a lot of literature on.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokaimura_nuclear_accident>pic related 