137Cs, 40K, alkali-alkaline earth element and heavy metal concentrations in wild mushrooms from Turkey

In 2002, an extensive study was performed in forest sites of Izmir. This first study results led on the one hand, to quantify of 137Cs and 40K concentration in mushrooms collected in the Izmir region and to a first evaluation of dose in people due to the ingestion of radionuclide- contaminated mushrooms. The mushroom concentration values varied over a wide range from below detection limit to 401 ± 4Bq kg-1 (dry wt) for 137Cs. The 40K concentration values obtained for different species of mushrooms rang ed from 588 ± 26 Bq kg-1 to 2024 ± 63 Bq kg-1 (dry wt). The annual effective dose values due to mushroom ingestion for 137Cs are lower than the ICRP-2007's reference level value of 1 mSv for "existing" exposure situation. Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry was used to measure many alkali-alkaline earth elements and heavy metals in mushroom samples. The relationships among the concentrations of 137Cs and the stable elements were presented and the occurrence of metals in mushrooms was evaluated. © Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest, Hungary 2010.