The contents of radionuclides Ru-103 and Ru-106 in food

The results of the contents evaluation for radionuclides Ru-103 and Ru-106 in milk and dairy products, meat, vegetables, fruit and honey is presented. Samples came from some European countries after the nuclear accident in Chernobyl, from May to December 1986. The contents of the radionuclides in the fresh samples of food was determined on a Ge(Li) detector by standard gamma spectroscopy. The results indicate the activity of Ru-103 and Ru-106 in the investigated samples of food sampled during May and June 1986, to range up to 100 Bq/kg, except for some vegetables where the contents were found to be 10 to 100 times greater. In food sampled in November and December 1986, the contents of Ru-103 was no longer within the measurable range, whereas the activity of Ru-106 was between 20 and 80 Bq/kg. Considering the few data about the metabolic ways of rutenium inside the body, one can see that there is a need for systematic and continuous study of the content of these radionuclides in food