John Miller
Mushrooms are known to accumulate radioactive cesium, a by-product of nuclear fission processes in nuclear reactors and nuclear weapons testing. This phenomenon has been observed in wild mushrooms collected around Europe after the Chernobyl nuclear accident and in Japan before and after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident. The accumulation of radioactive cesium in mushrooms depends on various factors such as the species of the filamentous fungi, the depth at which the underground portions of the mushrooms inhabit the soil, and the level of cesium-137 contamination in the soil. The contamination of edible mushrooms has raised concerns about the potential health risks associated with the consumption of contaminated mushrooms, particularly in regions close to nuclear accidents.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Mushrooms accumulate | Radioactive cesium-137 |
| Mushrooms absorb cesium from | Contaminated wood, litter, and soil |
| Radioactivity of mushrooms is checked | Regularly on a random basis |
| Radioactivity of mushrooms is measured by | Federal authorities and state institutions |
| Radioactivity of mushrooms depends on | Species, location conditions (soil type, pH value, soil moisture, etc.), and depth of underground portions of mushrooms |
| Radioactivity of mushrooms is higher in | Chestnut boletus than in boletus and chanterelle mushrooms |
| Radioactivity of mushrooms decreases | Over time due to radioactive decay and migration of radiocaesium to deeper soil layers |
| Radioactivity of mushrooms is affected by | Nuclear accidents, such as Chernobyl and Fukushima |
| Health impact of consuming contaminated mushrooms | Exposure to additional radiation, estimated at 0.001–0.12 mSv for Ukraine residents |
| Radiation exposure from mushrooms can be reduced by | Not consuming wild mushrooms from contaminated areas and limiting intake of mushrooms with high cesium levels |
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What You'll Learn
- Mushrooms absorb radioactive substances through their surface cells
- Radioactive Cs is transported to the mushroom's fruit-body through hyphae
- Radioactivity of mushrooms depends on species and location
- Radioactivity of mushrooms is regularly checked on a random basis
- Radioactivity in mushrooms can lead to high internal exposure in humans
Mushrooms absorb radioactive substances through their surface cells
Mushrooms absorb radioactive substances such as cesium-137 and radionuclides through their surface cells. This is due to their unique structure, which lacks stems and roots, and their method of obtaining nutrition from the atmosphere. The depth at which the underground portions of mushrooms inhabit the soil also affects their absorption of radioactive substances. Mushrooms with shallower depths, such as those in the 0-5 cm surface soil layer, tend to absorb more radioactive substances.
The accumulation of radioactive cesium in mushrooms has been a growing concern since the Chernobyl nuclear accident in 1986 and, more recently, the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant Accident. Studies have shown that edible mushrooms can accumulate radioactive cesium from contaminated wood logs, litter, and soil. This accumulation depends on the species of mushroom and the concentration of cesium in the surrounding environment. For example, chestnut boletus mushrooms accumulate more cesium-137, while boletus and chanterelle mushrooms accumulate less.
The radioactive contamination of mushrooms can lead to internal radiation exposure in humans and other animals that consume them. This exposure is influenced by the amount of contaminated mushroom consumed and the concentration of radioactive substances. In Germany, the limit for marketing food with cesium-137 is set at 600 becquerel per kilogram, although this limit does not apply to private use. It is important for mushroom pickers and consumers to be aware of the potential radiation exposure associated with contaminated mushrooms.
The accumulation of radioactive cesium in mushrooms is a direct pathway, with cesium transported to the fruit bodies through the basal portion of the stipe or the hyphae. This accumulation can result in high levels of radioactive cesium in the fruit bodies, especially when grown on contaminated wood logs. The presence of radioactive cesium in mushrooms highlights the long-lasting effects of nuclear accidents and the importance of monitoring food sources for potential contamination.
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Radioactive Cs is transported to the mushroom's fruit-body through hyphae
Radioactive Cs is known to accumulate in the hyphae of mushrooms. This has led to the belief that radioactive Cs is transported to the fruit body through the hyphae. However, recent studies have shown that this might not be the case.
Shiitake mushrooms were grown from radioactive Cs-contaminated wood logs. The spatial distribution of radioactive Cs in the cross-section of the wood log after the harvest of the fruit bodies was measured. The results indicated that some fraction of the radioactive Cs was transported directly to the basal portion of the stipe during the growth of the fruit bodies. This pathway results in a high accumulation of radioactive Cs in the fruit body, mainly due to the excess accumulation of radioactive Cs from the wood logs.
In another study, the hyphae of shiitake mushrooms were grown on a membrane filter placed on agar medium containing Prussian blue. Prussian blue accumulates Cs in submersion water. However, the hyphae remained white, indicating that Prussian blue and Cs did not penetrate them. This suggests that Prussian blue and Cs were transported through the interstitial water in the wood log outside of the hyphae.
Furthermore, when the sawdust spawn did not contain vermiculite or zeolite, no specific accumulation of radioactive Cs was observed, even though the hyphae grew in the contaminated wood log. This indicates that the radioactive Cs was intercepted by the vermiculite and zeolite during transport from the wood log to the fruit body.
While the exact mechanism of radioactive Cs transport to the fruit body remains to be fully elucidated, the current evidence suggests that it may not solely rely on transport through the hyphae. Further research is needed to understand the complex dynamics of radioactive Cs accumulation in mushrooms better.
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Radioactivity of mushrooms depends on species and location
Mushrooms are particularly prone to absorbing radioactive substances such as caesium-137 (also known as radiocaesium-137, cesium-137, and 137 Cs) and other radionuclides. This is due to their structure, as they absorb nutrients from the atmosphere through their surface cells. The radioactivity of mushrooms depends on the species of mushroom and its location.
The chestnut boletus (Imleria badia) is one of the types of mushrooms that accumulate caesium-137 particularly strongly. Other species that accumulate caesium-137 include Xerocomus badius, Pleurotus ostreatus, and shiitake mushrooms. The accumulation of radioactive caesium by the mushroom depends on the species of the filamentous fungi. For example, boletus and chanterelle mushrooms accumulate less caesium-137 than chestnut boletus. The depth at which the underground portions of mushrooms inhabit the soil also affects the uptake of radioactive substances, with mushrooms inhabiting the surface soil layer (0-5 cm or 0-2 inches) having the highest average concentration of caesium-137.
The contamination of mushrooms with caesium-137 also depends on the level of caesium-137 near the mycelium and the specific accumulation capacity of the mushroom species. The contamination of a mushroom species can vary greatly within the same area and is influenced by factors such as soil type, pH value, and soil moisture. For example, caesium-137 is more available in the upper organic layers of forest soil, while it is strongly bound to clay minerals in arable soils, making it difficult for plants to absorb.
The radioactivity of mushrooms has been a concern since the global nuclear weapon fallout and was extensively investigated after the Chernobyl reactor accident in 1986. The Chernobyl accident released large amounts of radionuclides, including caesium-137, into the environment, contaminating the lands of Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia. Caesium-137 has a relatively long half-life of around 30 years, so it continues to be a source of radiation exposure for humans through the consumption of contaminated mushrooms.
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Radioactivity of mushrooms is regularly checked on a random basis
Mushrooms are particularly prone to radioactive contamination due to their structure. Their surface cells can absorb large amounts of radioactive substances such as cesium-137 and radionuclides. The increased radioactivity of fungi has been known since the global nuclear fallout from weapons testing and nuclear accidents. The Chernobyl nuclear accident in 1986 and the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident in 2011 are two examples of nuclear disasters that have led to radioactive contamination in mushrooms.
Radioactivity in mushrooms is regularly checked on a random basis, and measured values are published. These measurements are carried out on behalf of federal authorities and state institutions. The radioactivity of mushrooms is of particular concern when it comes to edible mushrooms consumed by the population. The contamination of edible mushrooms alone was estimated to result in high internal exposure of 4800 Bq·kg−1 to Fukushima residents by direct intake and/or through the food chain. In Germany, it is not permitted to market food with more than 600 becquerel caesium-137 per kilogram. However, this limit does not apply for private use, so mushroom pickers are advised to be cautious about their additional radiation exposure.
The contamination of mushrooms depends on both the cesium-137 level near the mycelium and the special accumulation capacity of the respective mushroom species. The accumulation of cesium-137 by mushrooms is genetically determined, and the level of contamination can vary significantly even within the same species and area. The depth at which underground portions of mushrooms inhabit the soil also affects the uptake of radioactive substances. The highest average concentration of cesium-137 was found in mushrooms that inhabited the surface soil layer (0-5 cm or 0-2 inches).
The radioactivity of mushrooms is a health hazard, especially in areas heavily contaminated by radioactive fallout. In areas affected by the Chernobyl fallout, the consumption of wild mushrooms led to increased body content of radiocaesium in the population. This also showed a seasonal trend, with higher levels in the autumn when mushrooms are more abundant. The initial recommendation to prohibit the consumption of mushrooms in contaminated areas was one of the most successful actions in reducing the received dose by the population.
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Radioactivity in mushrooms can lead to high internal exposure in humans
Radioactivity in mushrooms has been a concern since the global nuclear fallout from weapons testing and nuclear power plant accidents. Mushrooms are particularly prone to absorbing radioactive substances such as cesium-137 (also known as caesium-137 or radiocaesium-137) and other radionuclides due to their structure and method of obtaining nutrients through absorption from the atmosphere via their surface cells. This is especially true for mushrooms that inhabit the surface soil layer.
The accumulation of radioactive cesium in mushrooms can occur through various pathways, including direct accumulation from contaminated wood logs, litter, and soil, as well as indirect pathways such as through the hyphae or extracellular transport. The transfer factors of radioactive cesium from the substrate to wild mushrooms can be high, resulting in significant accumulation in the fruit bodies. This accumulation depends on the species of mushroom, with some species having a higher capacity for accumulation than others.
The consumption of contaminated mushrooms can lead to high internal exposure to radioactivity in humans. This is a particular concern in areas affected by nuclear accidents, such as Chernobyl and Fukushima. In Germany, certain species of mushrooms are still highly contaminated with caesium-137, and consuming wild mushrooms in these areas can result in high internal exposure to radiation. The German Federal Office for Radiation Protection has reported values exceeding 1000 Bq/kg of cesium-137 in wild mushrooms.
To reduce personal exposure to radioactivity from mushrooms, it is recommended to avoid excessive consumption of wild mushrooms in affected areas. Regular measurements of mushroom radioactivity are carried out by federal and state authorities to monitor the levels of contamination. However, the demand for wild edible mushrooms has increased, and their consumption is considered a delicacy in many countries, leading to a significant rise in their distribution. This highlights the importance of ongoing monitoring and regulation of mushroom radioactivity to protect human health.
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Frequently asked questions
Mushrooms accumulate cesium due to their structure. They obtain nutrition from the atmosphere through their surface cells, which are prone to absorbing radioactive substances such as cesium-137.
The accumulation of cesium depends on the mushroom species. Some studies have found that chestnut boletus accumulate more cesium-137, while boletus and chanterelle mushrooms accumulate less.
The level of cesium-137 in the soil and the depth at which the mushrooms grow affect the uptake of radioactive substances. Mushrooms that inhabit the surface layer of soil tend to accumulate more cesium.
