Monitoring of radiation contamination of wild mushrooms in the Polissia region
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31073/onehealthjournal2026-III-03Keywords:
radiological control, fresh wild mushrooms, Cesium-137, Strontium-90, radiation load, environment, accumulationAbstract
Radiological control plays a key role in ensuring the safety of food products, especially freshly picked wild mushrooms, which actively absorb radioactive elements, in particular Cesium-137 and Strontium-90. Because of this ability, mushrooms can pose a significant threat if radiation contamination levels are not properly controlled. Scientific studies show that the ecological features of Polissia, in particular the sandy soils of this region, contribute to the accumulation of radionuclides in the upper layers of the earth. The natural migration of such pollutants leads to their concentration in wild mushrooms. Mechanisms of migration and accumulation of radionuclides are complex processes that depend on many factors. Among them, the most important are the type of soil, climatic conditions of the territory, reclamation measures, methods of land use, as well as the biological specificity of vegetation. At the same time, the situation is aggravated by modern socio-ecological challenges, such as military actions and mass fires. These phenomena disturb the upper layers of the soil, causing the release of previously bound radionuclides from contaminated areas, in particular those affected by the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. Radioactive dust and ash rise into the air and are carried over considerable distances, settling even in regions that were previously considered ecologically clean. This creates an additional threat to the safety of food products and forest resources in "clean" zones. In response to these challenges, Ukraine introduced a food safety control system designed to reduce the impact of radiation on the population. Its key component has become regular radiological monitoring of food products, which allows for prompt assessment of the level of radiation contamination and timely response to potential risks. In addition, radiological control performs an important function of raising public awareness and ensuring environmental and industrial safety.
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