Title of article :
Radiocaesium activity concentrations in the fruit-bodies
of macrofungi in Great Britain and an assessment of
dietary intake habits
Author/Authors :
C.L. Barnetta، نويسنده , , U، نويسنده , , N.A. Beresforda، نويسنده , , P.L. Self a، نويسنده , , B.J. Howarda، نويسنده , , J.C. Franklanda، نويسنده , , M.J. Fulkerb، نويسنده , , B.A. Dodda، نويسنده , , J.V.R. Marriottc، نويسنده ,
Issue Information :
هفته نامه با شماره پیاپی سال 1999
Abstract :
Radiocaesium activity concentrations in the fruit-bodies of some species of macrofungi are higher than in many
other foodstuffs. The consumption of fruit-bodies contributes significantly to radiocaesium intake of humans in some
countries. In the United Kingdom, the collection of wild fungi has generally been considered to be of minor
importance and there are few data on consumption rates or radiocaesium activity concentrations in most edible
species. Samples of commonly eaten species in Great Britain have been collected to assess radiocaesium contamination
levels and geographical variation. Concurrently, surveys of consumption habits were conducted. A total of 425
samples representing 37 different species were collected. Significantly higher radiocaesium activity concentrations
occurred in mycorrhizal compared to saprotrophic or parasitic species. The highest 137Cs activity concentration of
30.5 kBq kgy1 dry wt. was determined in a sample of Hydnum repandum collected in Wales. The transfer of
radiocaesium from soil to fungal fruit-bodies was highly variable, ranging over three orders of magnitude within
individual species. A number of approaches to quantifying radiocaesium transfer from soil to fungal fruit-bodies were
used. Although these were in general agreement with previously measured values in other countries, all the
approaches gave variable results. Over 200 people responded to the dietary habits questionnaire. The median intake
rate was 0.75 kg yeary1 fresh wt.. and 60% of respondents consumed only one species generally Agaricus
campestris.. However, intakes of up to 26 kg yeary1 were recorded and a total of 82 species were consumed. The
intake of 137Cs was determined by the amount of mycorrhizal fungi in the diet rather than the total intake of fungi.Assuming median recorded 137Cs activity concentrations in each fungal species, the estimated annual committed
effective dose for over 95% of respondents was -1 mSv. Hence, currently, the consumption of wild fungi in the UK
would not be expected to significantly increase the dose above that attributable to the normal diet of most
consumers. However, the results of this study demonstrate that, in the event of any future accidental release of
radiocaesium, the potential ingestion dose received from the consumption of wild fungi would need to be considered.
Keywords :
Radiocaesium , fungi , dietary habits , Transfer factor , Great Britain , Annual committed effective dose
Journal title :
Science of the Total Environment
Journal title :
Science of the Total Environment