Concentrations of ¹³⁷ Cs in forest mushrooms and soil in southern Poland

Abstract Introduction Since 1986, Poland has been constantly contaminated with radioactive 137 Cs, and before that, it experienced fallout like most of the world since nuclear bomb tests. As a result of radioactive fallout, vegetation and fungi acquired contamination. The distribution and migration of 137 Cs between elements of the environment affect the uptake of the radionuclide by animals and its movement up the food chain. This research was conducted to measure the concentrations of 137 Cs in soil and mushrooms and to understand radionuclide transfer. Material and Methods The research material consisted of mushroom and soil samples obtained from a forest in southern Poland. A total of 30 fungi and 20 soil samples were tested using gamma radiation spectrometry. Results The highest concentration in a whole-mushroom sample was 1,650 ± 20.40 Bq/kg, in a stipe was 2,192 ± 264.1 Bq/kg and in a cap was 1,323 ± 159.5 Bq/kg. The highest concentration in a soil sample taken from a depth of 0–10 cm was 105.7 ± 13.15 Bq/kg and in a sample from a depth of 10–20 cm was 39.48 ± 5.310 Bq/kg. Conclusion The obtained results indicate that the transfer of 137 Cs occurs from the soil towards the mushroom fruiting bodies, with the highest concentrations recorded in the stipes. Additionally, the cross-section of the transport profile shows the distribution of the tested radionuclide in individual elements of the environment and thus the degree of their radioactive contamination.