Concentrations of 137Cs and 40K in wild mushrooms collected in a forest on Noto Peninsula, Japan

Abstract

A variety of wild mushrooms were collected in a forest on the Noto Peninsula, Japan, to determine the concentration of 137Cs and 40K. The wild mushroom species belong to the orders Agaricales and Aphyllophorales. The concentration of 137Cs varied widely (1.4–4,100 Bq/kg dry weight) in mushrooms growing in soil. On the contrary, 137Cs concentration levels were relatively low (1.9–20 Bq/kg-dry weight) in mushrooms growing on wood. The concentration of 40K varied widely (12–2,400 Bq/kg-dry weight) in contrast with several previous reports that suggest relatively constant 40K levels in mushrooms. Unusually low concentrations of 40K were observed in a few mushroom species that had very hard fruiting bodies with peculiar shapes. The mean and median of 137Cs concentration in the present study were similar to those previously reported for Japanese mushrooms. Among the Agaricales mushrooms, Entolomataceae and Tricholomataceae families growing in soil had the highest concentration of 137Cs. Among the Aphyllophorales mushrooms, Gomphaceae and Ramariaceae families growing in soil also had the highest 137Cs concentrations. The concentrations of 137Cs and stable Cs in mushroom samples were positively correlated. The concentration ratio of 137Cs/Cs differed between Agaricales and Aphyllophorales mushrooms. The average 137Cs/Cs ratio in mushrooms growing in soil was similar to that calculated for the top soil (<5 cm deep) alone because the mycelia of the mushrooms were mainly distributed near the surface of the soil.