Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 1, 2026

In Vivo Functional Brain Imaging Approach Based on Bioluminescent Calcium Indicator GFP-aequorin
Published on: January 8, 2016
Alpha and beta radioactivity in mushrooms
Dagmara Strumińska-Parulska1, Jerzy Falandysz2
1Toxicology and Radiation Protection Laboratory, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland.
Abstract:
Mushrooms are considered suitable bioindicators of environmental pollution arising from certain elements, including radionuclides, because of their tendency to bioaccumulate varying levels of these essential and non-essential elements. Different species have different capacities for retaining individual radionuclides, both natural and anthropogenic. Medium and long-lived isotopes generally pose a very significant hazard to human health. Following pollution events, the consumption of mushrooms may pose a risk from exposure to highly radiotoxic emitters. This review focuses on the most common natural and anthropogenic alpha- and beta-emitting radionuclides in wild mushrooms worldwide, but also includes those that are less critical from a radiation-hazard perspective. The activity concentrations of the reported radionuclides accumulated in macrofungi range over nine orders of magnitude.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Types of Radioactivity
Alpha (α) decay is the emission of an α particle from the nucleus. For example, polonium-210 undergoes α decay:
Biological Effects of Radiation
Isotopes and Radioisotopes
An isotope containing more...
Radioactive Decay and Radiometric Dating
Radioactivity and Nuclear Equations
A nuclide of an element has a specific number of protons and...
Imaging Studies II: Positron Emission Tomography and Scintigraphy
Fundamental Principles of PET

