Contribution of fungi to radiocaesium intake by rural populations in Russia

In a study of transfer of Chernobyl radiocaesium to man, dietary surveys and whole body monitoring were conducted at two sites in the Bryansk Region of the Russian Federation. Radiocaesium activity concentrations in wild food products, especially mushrooms, were higher than those in agricultural products. The surveys revealed that consumption of highly contaminated wild mushrooms provided a significant contribution to ingested radiocaesium, accounting for 20–40% of the variability of radiocaesium activity concentrations in rural populations 8–9 years after the 1986 accident. Consumption of mushrooms was also the main reason for a 60–70% mean increase in radiocaesium activity concentrations in humans in autumn. Long term dose assessments after accidental releases of radiocaesium should therefore consider the potential contribution by mushrooms to ingested dose.