Abstract
This study, for the first time, presents the results of activity concentration determinations for 137Cs and 40K in a high number (21 species, 87 composite samples, and 807 fruiting bodies) of mushrooms of the genus Boletus from across Yunnan in 2011–2014 and Sichuan (Boletus tomentipes) using high-resolution high-purity germanium detector. Activity concentrations of 137Cs demonstrated some variability and range from <4.4 to 83 ± 3 Bq kg−1 dry biomass in caps and from <3.8 to 37 ± 3 Bq kg−1 dry biomass in stipes, and of 40K, respectively, from 420 ± 41 to 1300 ± 110 and from 520 ± 61 to 1300 ± 140 Bq kg−1 dry biomass. No significant variations were observed regarding 137Cs and 40K activity concentrations among the same Boletus species from different sampling sites. No activity concentrations from 134Cs were detected in any mushrooms. Internal dose rates estimated were from intake of 1 kg of mushrooms per annum for 137Cs range for species and regions from around <0.0031 to 0.047 ± 0.003 μSv, while those for 40K were from around 0.22 ± 0.04 to 1.2 ± 0.1 μSv. The overall intake of 137Cs was low since low contamination was found in Boletus species.
Highlights
The nuclear weapon detonations in the atmosphere (1945– 1980) and two major nuclear power plant accidents in Chernobyl (1986) and in Fukushima (2011) caused radioactive fallout at a global scale but deposition rates, radioactive pollution, and health risk differed for the regions of the world (Haselwandter et al 1988; Marzo 2014; Steinhauser et al 2013 and 2014)
The number of the pre-Chernobyl data published on activity concentrations of 137Cs accumulated in mushrooms because of the nuclear weapons tests in the atmosphere is a few
This study aimed to provide and discuss information on radiocaesium (134/137Cs) and radioactive potassium (40K) accumulated and distributed in fruiting bodies by 22 species of fungi of the genus Boletus, which are highly valued organic food (Frankowska et al 2010) and which are widely foraged in Yunnan of China
Summary
The nuclear weapon detonations in the atmosphere (1945– 1980) and two major nuclear power plant accidents in Chernobyl (1986) and in Fukushima (2011) caused radioactive fallout at a global scale but deposition rates, radioactive pollution, and health risk differed for the regions of the world (Haselwandter et al 1988; Marzo 2014; Steinhauser et al 2013 and 2014). The long-term residual radioactivity in the affected areas after the nuclear weapons use and nuclear power plant accidents comes largely from radiocaesium (137Cs, half-life 30.05 years, and 134Cs, half-life 2.06 years) aerosol deposited onto soils (Yasunari et al 2011). The number of the pre-Chernobyl data published on activity concentrations of 137Cs accumulated in mushrooms because of the nuclear weapons tests in the atmosphere is a few. Mushrooms such as Cortinarius armillatus, Cortinarius caperatus, Paxillus involutus, Lactarius rufus, Suillus
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