210 Po and 210 Pb bioaccumulation and possible related dose assessment in parasol mushroom ( Macrolepiota procera )

Abstract

Presented are results of a study on accumulation and distribution of ²¹⁰Po and ²¹⁰Pb in the fruitbodies of parasol mushroom (Macrolepiota procera) and risk to human consumer due to exposure from highly radiotoxic decay particles emitted by both radionuclides. Mushrooms were collected from 16 forested places in central and northern regions of Poland. Activity concentrations of ²¹⁰Po and ²¹⁰Pb were determined after radiochemical separation of nuclides and subsequent measurement using validated method and alpha spectrometer. Results showed on spatially heterogeneous distribution of the ²¹⁰Po and ²¹⁰Po activity concentrations in M. procera and two interpolation maps were prepared. Activity concentrations of nuclides in dried caps of M. procera were in the range from 3.38 ± 0.41 to 16.70 ± 0.33 Bq∙²¹⁰Po ∙kg⁻¹ and from 5.11 ± 0.21 to 13.42 ± 0.30 Bq∙²¹⁰Pb ∙kg⁻¹. Consumption of M. procera foraged in central and northern Poland should not contribute significantly to the annual effective radiation doses from ²¹⁰Po and ²¹⁰Pb due to amount of both nuclides accumulated by fungus in caps.