Radioactivity in food and total diet samples collected in selected settlements in the USSR

Within the framework of the International Chernobyl Project, radionuclides were studied in food and total diet samples collected in selected communities in the areas of the USSR which were contaminated to various degrees by fallout from the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power station. Radioactivity levels in total diet were used to estimate internal doses; these range from <0.1-12 mSv/year. The most significant radionuclide was found to be 137Cs. The concentrations of 137Cs in food and diet are quite variable, as are therefore the estimated doses; the ranges in the estimated doses are similar to the ranges in doses estimated from independent whole-body measurements. Levels of 90Sr were lower and more uniform as well. Internal doses due to 90Sr in diet, which range from <0.01-0.08 mSv/year, are lower than those estimated for 137Cs and they are much lower than the 137Cs doses for the most contaminated diets. Levels of artificial actinides in diets are very low and the estimated doses (<0.3 μSv/year) are trivial. (Author)