Accumulation of 210Pb, 226Ra and radioactive cesium by fungi

Fungi sampled in three areas in France were analyzed by gamma-spectrometry for their concentrations of 134Cs, 137Cs, 210Pb and 226Ra. In most of the samples radioactive cesium was detected with a maximum of 2860 Bq kg-1 (dry wt.). Activity concentrations of 210Pb were in the range < 1.76-36.5 Bq kg-1 (dry wt.). Activity concentrations of 226Ra were consistently lower, often by one order of magnitude. Models are developed to estimate the contributions of atmospheric 210Pb deposited onto the fruit bodies to the measured 210Pb concentrations and of the uptake of 222Rn soluted in soil pore water which subsequently decays into 210Pb. It is shown that both pathways are of only minor importance. Comparison with the soil-mushroom concentration ratios of stable lead, which were determined for some of the samples, confirmed that 210Pb in mushrooms mainly originates from direct uptake of 210Pb present in the soil. Despite of the high concentrations of 137Cs detected in most of the mushrooms, radiation doses to individuals due to mushroom consumption are dominated by 210Pb for the majority of the edible mushrooms sampled.