Radioactivity of wild food

Aim of the study

The aim is to provide information on the variation of ¹³⁷Cs concentrations in wild foodstuffs (mushrooms, berries, game meat and freshwater fish) in Finland. Changes in the ¹³⁷Cs levels in the course of time and variation in different areas are studied as well as the variation in internal radiation doses due to consumption of wild food in different areas. The results give information for assessing the situation in Finland regarding to the maximum permitted level, 600 Bq/kg, recommended to be respected when placing wild game, wild berries, wild mushrooms and lake fish on the market (Commission recommendation 2003/274/Euratom).

Implementation

Sampling of forest products (mushrooms, berries, game meat) is continued in the previous sampling sites to assess the temporal changes in the ¹³⁷Cs concentrations. The variation between the ¹³⁷Cs concentrations of different species is statistically clarified using the existing data. Long-term changes in ¹³⁷Cs levels of different species are studied.

Fish samples (perch and/or pike) are taken from small lakes in the areas of the highest deposition. Perch and pike are widely consumed species of freshwater fish, and the highest activity concentrations of ¹³⁷Cs are found in these species. The results obtained thus represent the highest ¹³⁷Cs levels in fish in Finland. In the lakes of other areas and in other fish species the ¹³⁷Cs concentrations are lower.

Dissemination and exploitation of the results

The results provide information on long-term changes in radioactivity of wild foodstuffs. The results are exploited in assessing the internal radiation dose due to the consumption of wild foodstuffs, variation of doses in different areas and in people with different consumption habits. Information on the results is given on STUK web pages.

Collaborators

None outside STUK

Timetable

A continuous programme

Responsible scientists

Eila Kostiainen and Ritva Saxén

Page updated 15/05/2009