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Forty Years After Chernobyl: Radiocaesium in Wild Edible Mushrooms from North-Eastern Poland and Its Relevance for Dietary Exposure and Food Safety

Summary

Researchers tested wild mushrooms from forests in Poland to see if they contained dangerous radiation from the 1986 Chernobyl disaster. They measured radioactive cesium and potassium in 230 mushroom samples from 19 different species and compared them to soil samples. Good news: all the mushrooms were safe to eat according to food safety standards, with radiation levels below the legal limits. The study shows that mushrooms can be good indicators of how much radiation remains in forest environments.

Background

Wild-growing edible mushrooms are known to bioaccumulate radionuclides from their environment, particularly cesium-137 (137Cs) and potassium-40 (40K). North-eastern Poland, one of the most forested regions affected by Chernobyl fallout in 1986, remains underrepresented in recent radioecological assessments despite the cultural and economic importance of mushroom foraging.

Objective

This study aimed to assess the radiological safety of wild mushrooms intended for human consumption from north-eastern Poland, focusing on 137Cs and 40K activity concentrations in fruiting bodies and corresponding soil samples to evaluate regulatory compliance and potential dietary exposure levels.

Results

137Cs activity in mushrooms ranged from 0.94 to 159.0 Bq/kg fresh mass, with none exceeding the regulatory limit of 1250 Bq/kg. The highest estimated annual effective dose was 2.32 µSv from 137Cs and 0.93 µSv from 40K. A strong positive correlation (Spearman’s Rho = 0.81, p = 0.042) was observed between 137Cs in soil and mushroom dry mass.

Conclusion

Wild mushrooms from north-eastern Poland are radiologically safe for consumption, with all samples complying with food safety regulations. The findings contribute novel region-specific data and support the use of mushrooms as potential bioindicators of environmental radiocaesium contamination in forest ecosystems.
  • Published in:Toxics,
  • Study Type:Observational Study,
  • Source: 40711045
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