Concentration of caesium isotopes in foodstuffs in Poland

One of the sources of the radioactive doses obtained by people resulting from the radiological contamination of the environment, is the transfer of radionuclides to the organism via ingestion. Radioactive isotopes in foodstuffs appear as a result of nuclear activities on the globe, mainly because of nuclear explosion and, recently, after the Chernobyl accident. Since the early sixties the network of Service for Measurement of Radioactive Contamination in Poland systematically controlled all kinds of important food products. Radiochemical methods and gamma spectrometry has been used to determination the activity of radioactive isotopes. This contribution reports of the determination of 134Cs and 137Cs concentration in milk, meat, vegetables, fruits, cereals and 'forest products' during period 1985-1999. In 1985 the average 137Cs level was below 1 Bq/kg (except forest products). Moreover, no regional differences were observed the whole territory of Poland. After the Chernobyl accident situation changed completely. Average activity of 137Cs in milk was 25 Bq/l in May 1986, 20-25 Bq/kg in beef and 10-15 Bq/kg in pork (summer months). Also fruit picked up in June and July was contaminated, mainly currents. The contamination of vegetables was less important. The activity of cesium isotopes in forest mushrooms and wild game were much higher than in other tested foodstuffs. From the 1987 level of radioactive contamination was decreasing gradually. In 1999 the activity of 137Cs of vegetables, cereals, fruit was on level as it has been in 1985 as for meat and milk it is higher. Level of radiocesium in 'forest products' is still high. The average annual effective dose from ingestion of radiocesium was on level 0.088 mSv in 1986 and 0.006 mSv in 1999. (author)