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Radioactivity concentrations of 137Cs and 40K in basidiomycetes collected in Taiwan
1Radiation Monitoring Center, Atomic Energy Council, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Abstract:
Radioactivity concentrations of 137Cs and 40K in 64 mushroom samples belonging to 16 species of basidiomycetes collected at various locations in Taiwan have been measured in 1994. All of the samples were mushrooms cultivated indoors. The concentrations of 137Cs in many samples were below the limit of detection (< 1.0 Bq kg-1 dry weight), and 134Cs was not detected in any of the samples. The radioactivity concentration ranges of 137Cs and 40K in basidiomycetes were < 1.0-7.3 Bq kg-1 dry weight and < 50-1230 Bq kg-1 dry weight, respectively. The transfer factors of F. velutipes, G. lucidum and L. edodes from sawdust (growing substrate) to mushroom were approximately 10, 10.2, < 3.8 for 137Cs, and 7.2, 1.6, 1.8 for 40K, respectively. The effective dose equivalent due to the dietary intake of radiocesium through mushrooms for the Taiwanese people was estimated to be only 4.4 x 10(-10) Sv y-1.
Insights
Radioactivity levels of cesium-137 (137Cs) and potassium-40 (40K) in cultivated mushrooms in Taiwan were measured. The study found very low radiocesium levels, indicating minimal risk from mushroom consumption.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Food Safety
- Nuclear Chemistry
Background:
- Radioactive contamination in food sources is a global concern.
- Mushrooms are known to accumulate radionuclides from their environment.
- Understanding radionuclide uptake in cultivated mushrooms is crucial for food safety assessments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify the concentrations of cesium-137 (137Cs) and potassium-40 (40K) in various cultivated basidiomycete mushrooms in Taiwan.
- To assess the transfer factors of these radionuclides from sawdust substrate to mushrooms.
- To estimate the effective dose equivalent for the Taiwanese population due to radiocesium intake from mushroom consumption.
Main Methods:
- Collection of 64 mushroom samples from 16 species cultivated indoors in Taiwan in 1994.
- Measurement of radioactivity concentrations of 137Cs and 40K using gamma spectrometry.
- Calculation of transfer factors (TF) from growing substrate (sawdust) to mushroom tissue.
- Estimation of effective dose equivalent based on measured concentrations and dietary intake data.
Main Results:
- 137Cs concentrations were mostly below the limit of detection (< 1.0 Bq kg-1 dry weight); 134Cs was not detected.
- Radioactivity concentration ranges were < 1.0-7.3 Bq kg-1 dry weight for 137Cs and < 50-1230 Bq kg-1 dry weight for 40K.
- Transfer factors for 137Cs ranged from < 3.8 to 10.2, and for 40K from 1.6 to 7.2.
- The estimated effective dose equivalent from radiocesium intake via mushrooms was very low (4.4 x 10(-10) Sv y-1).
Conclusions:
- Cultivated basidiomycetes in Taiwan showed low levels of 137Cs contamination in 1994.
- The transfer of 137Cs and 40K from sawdust substrate to mushrooms is species-dependent.
- Dietary intake of radiocesium through mushroom consumption poses a negligible health risk to the Taiwanese population.