Specialists recommend checking forest gifts for radionuclide content

July 22, Minsk /Corr. BELTA/. Mushrooms must be subjected to radiological control, as they are the strongest accumulators of radionuclides, the Republican Center for Hygiene, Epidemiology and Public Health informed BELTA.

In some types of mushrooms, the content of cesium-137 exceeds permissible levels even in relatively clean areas (up to 1 Ci/km2). The most dangerous in terms of radiation accumulation are bitter mushrooms, Polish mushrooms, slippery jacks, true and black milk-caps, and pink russulas. The collection of these mushrooms is allowed only in forests with a cesium-137 soil contamination density of up to 1 Ci/km2.

Weak and medium accumulators of radiocesium mushrooms include true chanterelles, porcini mushrooms, orange-cap boletus, birch boletus, and ryadovkas. They can be collected in forests with a cesium-137 soil contamination density of up to 2 Ci/km2.

The harvesting of wild berries and fruits is allowed only in forests with a cesium-137 soil contamination density of up to 2 Ci/km2. Information on the radiation situation in the intended mushroom and berry picking areas can be obtained from forestry enterprises.

      All collected forest gifts must be checked for radionuclide content. This can be done at territorial centers of hygiene and epidemiology, at forestry enterprises with radiation control posts, as well as in veterinary and sanitary examination laboratories at markets.

The center's specialists warn that purchasing wild berries and mushrooms from unauthorized trading places can negatively affect human health. Most sellers who sell these products along highways, as a rule, do not check them for radioactive contamination.-0-