Evaluation of radioactivity in chanterelle (Cantharellus cibarius) and health implications

The contamination, accumulation, spatial distribution, and potential health risks of cesium ¹³⁷Cs, polonium ²¹⁰Po, radiolead ²¹⁰Pb, and potassium ⁴⁰K in chanterelles collected across Poland were examined using validated methodology and gamma-ray and alpha-particle spectrometric measurements. Values of anthropogenic ¹³⁷Cs activity concentration in mushrooms were between 118 and 1647 Bq∙kg^-1 dry weight (dw), while for natural ⁴⁰K, they were from 1316 to 1895 Bq∙kg^-1 dw. The activity concentrations of ²¹⁰Po in chanterelles were between 2.23 and 8.57 Bq∙kg^-1 dw, and in forest topsoil, between 11.4 and 83.0 Bq∙kg^-1 dw, while corresponding values for ²¹⁰Pb were 1.50-6.14 and 7.74-46.1 Bq∙kg^-1 dw, respectively. The obtained results varied significantly: the highest values of activity concentrations were determined for ⁴⁰K, while the lowest were for ²¹⁰Po and ²¹⁰Pb. Studies have shown that lamellae mushrooms, such as chanterelles, may contain higher activity concentrations of polonium ²¹⁰Po and radiolead ²¹⁰Pb than tubular mushrooms, but a broader study is recommended. ¹³⁷Cs is an anthropogenic contaminant present in the environment as a result of global atmospheric fallout. An assessment of the values of annual radiation doses and cancer risk related to ¹³⁷Cs, ⁴⁰K, ²¹⁰Po, and ²¹⁰Pb consumed with chanterelle showed that ¹³⁷Cs and ²¹⁰Po induce a similar risk, but 2-3 orders of magnitude higher than that of ⁴⁰K and ²¹⁰Pb.