Radiocaesium transfer from forest soils to wild edible fruits and radiation dose assessment through their ingestions in Czech Republic

Abstract

ABSTRACTDue to the Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident in 1986, the environment of forest ecosystems is still contaminated by radiocaesium (137Cs). Currently the average surface soil activity of 137Cs is 3.87 kBq m−2 in the Czech Republic. Depending on the soil properties of the sample locality, the 137Cs content in selected edible forest fruits and related radiocaesium soil-to-fruit transfer was analysed. In addition, radiation doses through ingestion were estimated with regards to the potential health risk caused by consumption of the fruits. Fruits (blueberry, rowanberry, blackberry and raspberry) and soil samples were collected in some locations of the Jeseníky Protected Landscape Area (PLA), the north-eastern mountains of the Czech Republic most severely contaminated with radiocaesium (137Cs). The average aggregated transfer coefficient (TFag) for radiocaesium (137Cs) reached values ranging from 2.73 × 10−5 to 2.20 × 10−2 m2 kg−1. The values of TFag correlated with the soil reaction, with the content of humus and with the content of clay particles in the soil of the sample areas, that is, r = –0.90 (p < 0.001), r = 0.81 (p < 0.001) and r = –0.68 (p < 0.01), respectively. Only the soil reaction pH (KCl) had an effect on TFag (p < 0.01). The highest radiation dose which the average Czech consumer would receive after consumption of the fruits was calculated as 1.78 × 10−2 mSv year−1, and such a dose of radiocaesium should not present a serious health problem.