Izvorni znanstveni članak
Mosses and Some Mushroom Species as Bioindicators of Radiocaesium Contamination and Risk Assessment
Gordana Marović
Zdenko Franić
Jasminka Senčar
Tomislav Bituh
Ozren Vugrinec
Sažetak
Mosses, lichens, mushrooms are able to efficiently accumulate different radioactive elements from their environment
to a much higher degree than other vegetation. They are sensitive bioindicators of radioactive contamination for various
ecosystems, particularly in the event of a nuclear accident and uncontrolled emission oh fission products. Results of systematic,
long-term measurements of 137Cs activities in mosses and in some edible mushroom species in North Croatia for
the post-Chernobyl period (1986–2007) are summarized. The study was conducted in the Radiation Protection Unit of
the Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health in Zagreb, as a part of an extensive monitoring program of
the Croatian environment. In the overall observed period the highest activity concentration of 137Cs deposited by fallout
has been recorded in 1986, which is the year of Chernobyl accident, causing peak 137Cs activity concentration in moss of
8800 Bq/kg in May 1986. In the same period mean 137Cs activity concentration in grass was 390 Bq/kg. The highest value
of 137Cs activity concentration in Cortinarius caperatus mushrooms of 1351 Bq/kg has been recorded in 1989. Fitting the
measured 137Cs activity concentrations to the theoretical curve the ecological half-life of 137Cs in moss was found to be
around 978 days, in grass around 126 days in the period 1986–1990, in Cortinarius caperatus mushroom around 5865
days (16.1 years). Regarding the risk assessment to Croatian population, due to consumption of mushrooms, the collective
effective dose for Croatian population, estimated to be about 35 mSv per year, was found to be quite low. Therefore, it
can be concluded that mushroom consumption was not a critical pathway for the transfer of radiocaesium from fallout to
humans after the Chernobyl accident.
Ključne riječi
radiocaesium; ecological half-life; risk; moss; grass; mushroom
Hrčak ID:
34551
URI
Datum izdavanja:
1.10.2008.
Posjeta: 1.810 *