Abstract
The aim of this study was to obtain some preliminary data necessary for the assessment of the possible existence of small-area local sources of contaminated mushrooms in forested areas with comparatively low inventory of man-made 137Cs. On the study plot near Čierne-Svrčinovec (North-western Slovakia) 31 samples were collected during periodic sampling in the years 2012-2013 and analysed by gamma-spectrometry. Activities 137Cs in mushrooms from entire sampling plot followed the lognormal distribution with extremely high variation and high positive skew, with projected three-sigma (99.75%) range from 0.49 Bq.kg-1 to 1537 Bq.kg-1 (dry weight, d.w.) and with geometrical average of 27.4 Bq.kg-1 (d.w.). Another 11 samples were collected or bought from roadside vendors living in Roma slums near villages Richnava and Kluknava (Spiš region, eastern Slovakia). Obtained edible wild mushrooms were in a good shape despite prolonged drought indicating existence of well hidden forested sites in slum surroundings. Highest activity of 137Cs in this set was recorded in Boletus edulis (263.3 ± 20.3) Bq.kg-1 (d.w.). Both geometric mean (49.0 Bq.kg-1) and expectation value (91.2 Bq.kg-1 d.w.) of lognormal distribution were higher than that of the study plot on NW Slovakia. No sample exceeded the legal radiohygienic limit for radiocesium contamination. The limited extent of presented study only slightly indicates the possibility of slow changes in spatial redistribution of bioavailable 137Cs in forest ecosystem. However, available data on this subject from different sources suggest that there is no reason for massive occurrence of highly contaminated fruiting bodies in small areas surrounding settlements, where some critical groups of individuals, who are used to consume large amounts of mushrooms from limited geographical area could in such case develop significant internal contamination.
Highlights
Three decades after the Chernobyl accident and subsequent contamination almost of the entire European territory by a complex mixture of radionuclides there is still significant amount of 137Cs activity present in various biological parts of the terrestrial ecosystems (Aarkrog, 1988; Gudiksen et al, 1989; Bossew et al, 2001; Lehto et al, 2013)
Typical range surveyed by free-time mushroom collectors is usually much smaller than 10 km2, which is the grid area per 1 measuring point used on the official map of 137Cs activity over Slovakia territory (Gluch et al, 2005)
Observed range of 137Cs activities around 1.5 order of magnitude for the whole set of species found on a sampling plot is at the lower end of the range of variations reported in more heavily contaminated single forests in Europe (Mietelsky et al, 2010; Guillén and Baeza, 2014)
Summary
Three decades after the Chernobyl accident and subsequent contamination almost of the entire European territory by a complex mixture of radionuclides there is still significant amount of 137Cs activity present in various biological parts of the terrestrial ecosystems (Aarkrog, 1988; Gudiksen et al, 1989; Bossew et al, 2001; Lehto et al, 2013). This is due to a large amount of 137Cs released, its long half-life (T1/2 = 30.1 y) and chemical similarity of caesium to potassium. While food restriction criteria adopted in EU clearly achieved the objective of providing appropriate protection of individuals with ordinary consumer habits, some critical groups of individuals, who habitually consume large amounts of certain foods from limited geographical area and/or local food sources could exist (EC, 1998)
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