Radionuclide Activity Concentrations in Some Wild Fungi and Nourished Mushrooms and Their Composts

In this study, natural and artificial radioactivity concentration in Agaricus bispora (nourished mushroom) and their composts, Cantharellus cibarius and Coprinus micaceuc (wild species) were determined. Samples were collected from Sahne and two kinds of wild mushroom species from Songhor Koliai township gardens all located in Kermanshah Province were collected. HPGe gamma ray spectrometry system was used to determine the specific activity of 238U, 235U, 232Th, 40Kand 137Cs. Radioactivity concentration of 238U, 235U and 232Th in the edible mushroom samples in different cultivation were lower than MDA and for 40K and 137Cs they were equal to 1895.24±14.21 – 1920.24±14.71 Bq/kg dry and up to 0.72±0.06 Bq/kg dry respectively. Results of specific activity of 238U, 235U ,232Th, 40K and 137Cs for the composts were equal to 3.40±0.81, up to 5.24±0.34, 6.59±1.63- 7.82±1.37, 1166.12±33.21 – 1428.27±13.71 and 0.75±0.24 – 1.97±0.27 Bqkg-1dry respectively. Edible mushroom in different cultivation of this measurement shows that the radioactivity concentration of interest are close to or lower than MDA (Minimum Detectable Activity) but radioactivity concentration of composts indicate the low pollution of these regions by nuclear accident or nuclear weapon test. Consumption of the mushrooms would impose no health consequences to the consumers.