Assessment of cancer risk and radiological effects from 210Po and 210Pb with consumption of wild medicinal herbal plants.

BACKGROUND: Plants' raw materials can accumulate chemical elements, including radioisotopes, to some extent and reflect the region they grow in. Due to their high environmental content and toxicity, natural radionuclides - polonium 210Po and lead 210Pb are the most dangerous radioisotopes for human health. METHODS: 70 raw medicinal herbal materials from 54 popular wild-growing medicinal plant species, most of them included in the European Pharmacopoeia, were collected across three regions. In 210 samples, the activity concentrations of 210Po and 210Pb were determined, and their radiotoxicity and cancer risk were calculated. RESULTS: The results of 210Po and 210Pb activities measured in herbal raw material were from 0.12 mBq g-1 dry weight in the fruits of the common chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) to 19.7 mBq g-1 dw in herb of ground elder (Aegopodium podagraria) for 210Po, while for 210Pb ranged from 0.16 mBq g-1 dw to 34.3 mBq g-1 dw in the same plants. There were statistically significant differences between 210Po and 210Pb content in leaves, herbs, flowers, and fruit. The studies indicated that the estimated annual effective radiation dose from Polish medicinal herbs consumption was low, ranging 0.03-105 µSv from 210Po and 0.02-98.2 µSv from 210Pb, while the risk of cancer morbidity and mortality ranged from 10-5 to 10-9. CONCLUSIONS: Consumption of the tested medicinal herbs is safe from the radiological point of view and, based on the predictions related to the calculated risk of cancer, should not increase the probability of its occurrence.

Vertical distribution of 241Am in the southern Baltic Sea sediment profiles.

The contamination of the Baltic Sea with radioactive substances occurred due to the global fallout of atmospheric nuclear weapon tests and the Chernobyl disaster. The knowledge of 241Am in the sediments of the Baltic Sea is limited. Thus, this study aimed to determine 241Am in sediment cores collected from the southern Baltic Sea. Time-based distributions were derived from age-depth profiles using the 210Pb dating method and further corroborated by 137Cs profiles. The activities of 241Am were measured by alpha spectrometry after radiochemical purification. The results show divergences in the concentrations of 241Am at the local level, varying from 0.017 ± 0.001 Bq·kg-1 at the Gotland Basin station to 3.19 ± 0.23 Bq·kg-1 in the Gdansk Basin. These findings enhance our understanding of the radioactive contamination levels in the Baltic Sea and serve as a crucial reference dataset for future assessments and management strategies to mitigate the environmental impact of radionuclides in the region.

On the radiotoxic 210Po in coffee beans worldwide and the impact of roasting and brewing on its extraction into beverages: from the experiments to 210Po content prediction.

We determined radiotoxic 210Po in roasted coffee beans from different regions worldwide, the beverages, and tried to create the prediction model of 210Po content based on its growth location. Additionally, the experiments on 210Po losses and extraction were performed to describe the actual exposure to 210Po. 210Po concentrations in coffee beans and brews tuned out low (maximally of 0.20 Bq∙kg-1 and 2.31 Bq∙L-1, respectively). We assessed the impact of the roasting process on 210Po content and its losses at a maximum of 56.7%. During infusion experiments, we estimated the extraction of 210Po to the coffee brew at a maximum of 40.6%. The amount of 210Po in the coffee brew depended on the infusion style and water type. We calculated the effective radiation doses from the coffee drink ingestion. Coffee drinking does not contribute significantly to the annual effective radiation dose worldwide.

Estimation of plutonium 241Pu budget in the Gulf of Gdansk and the Gdansk Basin (the southern Baltic Sea).

Presented have been the results of inventory estimation of anthropogenic beta-emitting 241Pu, in different components in the southern Baltic Sea ecosystem. The total 241Pu activity present in the Gulf of Gdansk and the Gdansk Basin for 2021 was estimated at 1.99 TBq and 7.82 TBq, respectively, of which 1.59 TBq and 6.38 TBq in the sediments. The Vistula and the Neman River and the atmospheric fallout were distinguished as the primary sources of plutonium in these basins. In seawater of the Gulf of Gdansk, there was about 0.40 TBq 241Pu (20.1% of total activity) and 1.44 TBq 241Pu (18.4% of total activity) in the Gdansk Basin. The 241Pu accumulated in living organisms in 2021 was 1.13 GBq in the Gulf of Gdansk and 3.96 GBq in the Gdansk Basin. In the Gulf of Gdansk biota, 55.7% was accumulated in zoobenthos, while in the Gdansk Basin, 48.3% was in zoobenthos.

On the occurrence, origin, and intake of the nuclides, 210Po and 210Pb, in sclerotia of Wolfiporia cocos collected in China.

The dried sclerotium of the fungus Wolfiporia cocos is edible and has medicinal value. This study aimed to understand the accumulation of radioactivity arising from the alpha 210Po, and beta-emitting 210Pb, in the sclerotium's shell and core and assess a potential effective dose for consumers. Sclerotia were collected in the wild and from cultivars in China's Anhui and Yunnan provinces. The mean values of 210Po activity concentration levels were 0.36 Bq kg-1 dry weight in the core and 12.0 Bq kg-1 dw in the shell; 210Pb activities were 0.43 and 9.84 Bq kg-1 dw, respectively. The potential effective radiation doses from core layers (as a major raw material of the sclerotium) ranged from 0.13 to 3.43 µSv kg-1 dw from 210Po decay and from 0.11 to 1.52 µSv kg-1 dw from 210Pb decay. Corresponding values for shell ranged from 0.80 to 42.4 for 210Po and from 0.53 to 13.6 µSv kg-1 dw for 210Pb. In general, the intake of W. cocos sclerotia varies between consumers, but this would not significantly change the effective radiation doses from 210Po and 210Pb isotopes. The consumption thus appears to be safe from a radiological protection point of view.

Radiocaesium in Tricholoma spp. from the Northern Hemisphere in 1971-2016.

A considerable amount of data has been published on the accumulation of radiocaesium (134Cs and particularly, 137Cs) in wild fungi since the first anthropogenically influenced releases into the environment due to nuclear weapon testing, usage and subsequently from major accidents at nuclear power plants in Chernobyl (1986) and Fukushima (2011). Wild fungi are particularly susceptible to accumulation of radiocaesium and contamination persists for decades after pollution events. Macromycetes (fruiting bodies, popularly called mushrooms) of the edible fungal species are an important part of the human and forest animal food-webs in many global locations. This review discusses published occurrences of 134Cs and 137Cs in twenty four species of Tricholoma mushrooms sourced from the Northern Hemisphere over the last five decades, but also includes some recent data from Italy and Poland. Tricholoma are an ectomycorrhizal species and the interval for contamination to permeate to lower soils layers which host their mycelial networks, results in a delayed manifestation of radioactivity. Available data from Poland, over similar periods, may suggest species selective differences in accumulation, with some fruiting bodies, e.g. T. portentosum, showing lower activity levels relative to others, e.g. T. equestre. Species like T. album, T. sulphurescens and T. terreum also show higher accumulation of radiocaesium, but reported observations are few. The uneven spatial distribution of the data combined with a limited number of observations make it difficult to decipher any temporal contamination patterns from the observations in Polish regions. When data from other European sites is included, a similar variability of 137Cs activity is apparent but the more recent Ukrainian data appears to show relatively lower activities. 40K activity in mushrooms which is associated with essential potassium, remains relatively constant. Further monitoring of 137Cs activity in wild mushrooms would help to consolidate these observations.

210Po and 210Pb in King Bolete (Boletus edulis) and Related Mushroom Species: Estimated Effective Radiation Dose and Geospatial Distribution in Central and Eastern Europe.

210Po and 210Pb occur naturally and are the most radiotoxic isotopes of the uranium (U) decay chain. Samples of Boletus edulis and related mushroom species, including B. pinophilus, B. reticulatus, B. luridus and B. impolitus, collected from Poland and Belarus were investigated for the activity concentrations of these isotopes and also for their potential health risk through adult human consumption. The results showed that spatially, the occurrence of 210Po and 210Po was heterogeneous, with activities varying from 0.91 to 4.47 Bq∙kg-1 dry biomass and from 0.82 to 5.82 Bq∙kg-1 db, respectively. Caps and stipes of the fruiting bodies showed similar levels of contamination. Consumption of boletes foraged in Poland could result in exposure to a combined radiation dose of 10 µSv∙kg-1 db from both isotopes. This dose is not significant compared to the total annual effective radiation dose of 210Po and 210Pb (54-471 µSv∙kg-1) from all sources, suggesting that these mushrooms are comparatively safe for human consumption.

137Caesium, 40K and total K in Boletus edulis at different maturity stages: Effect of braising and estimated radiation dose intake.

We studied activity concentrations of artificial 137Cs and natural 40K and concentration of total potassium (K) in Boletus edulis at different maturity stages (button, young - white, large - white and large - yellow), and the effect of braising and human dietary intake. Mushrooms were collected from the northern region of Poland in 2019. The 137Cs activity concentration was significantly higher in raw and braised button stage samples and decreased as the fruitbody matured, but conversely, 40K was lower in the raw button stage than in older fruitbodies. 137Cs activity concentrations in raw, button stage B. edulis were 36 ± 1 Bq kg-1 ww (360 ± 1 Bq kg-1 dw), increasing to 70 ± 2 Bq kg-1 ww (290 ± 7 Bq kg-1 dw) when braised. This activity was around fourteen-fold higher (p < 0.0001) than at higher maturity stages which showed 2.5 ± 0.7 Bq kg-1 ww (25 ± 7 Bq kg-1 dw) in raw and 4.9 ± 0.7 Bq kg-1 ww (19 ± 4 Bq kg-1 dw) in braised fruitbodies. In comparison to raw B. edulis, braising enriched the activity concentrations of 137Cs at 110 ± 69% and 40K at 80 ± 56% on a whole (wet) weight basis.

A Review of the Occurrence of Alpha-Emitting Radionuclides in Wild Mushrooms.

Alpha-emitting radioisotopes are the most toxic among all radionuclides. In particular, medium to long-lived isotopes of the heavier metals are of the greatest concern to human health and radiological safety. This review focuses on the most common alpha-emitting radionuclides of natural and anthropogenic origin in wild mushrooms from around the world. Mushrooms bio-accumulate a range of mineral ionic constituents and radioactive elements to different extents, and are therefore considered as suitable bio-indicators of environmental pollution. The available literature indicates that the natural radionuclide 210Po is accumulated at the highest levels (up to 22 kBq/kg dry weight (dw) in wild mushrooms from Finland), while among synthetic nuclides, the highest levels of up to 53.8 Bq/kg dw of 239+240Pu were reported in Ukrainian mushrooms. The capacity to retain the activity of individual nuclides varies between mushrooms, which is of particular interest for edible species that are consumed either locally or, in some cases, also traded on an international scale. The effective radiation dose from the ingestion of this food can reportedly range from 0.033 µSv/kg dw to 26.8 mSv/kg and varies depending on the country. Following pollution events, such consumption may expose consumers to highly radiotoxic decay particles produced by alpha emitters.

Bolete mushroom Boletus bainiugan from Yunnan as a reflection of the geographical distribution of 210Po, 210Pb and uranium (234U, 235U, 238U) radionuclides, their intake rates and effective exposure doses.

This pioneering study aimed to determine the activity concentrations of 210Po, 210Pb and uranium (234U, 235U, 238U) radionuclides in fruit bodies of wild bolete Boletus bainiugan Dentinger and to estimate its edible safety, which may give scientific evidence for the consumption of this species. The analyses were performed using alpha spectrometer after digestion, exchange resins separation and deposition. Measurement data were analysed and interpolation maps reflecting 210Po, 210Pb and uranium (234U, 235U, 238U) geographical distribution in Yunnan province (China) were presented. In addition, from the perspective of food safety, the possible related effective radiation dose to mushrooms consumers were estimated. The results indicated that 210Po, 210Pb and uranium (234U, 235U, 238U) radionuclides contents in B. bainiugan were significantly different with respect to geographical distribution, and their possible intake in a part of the region was considerably higher. A very interesting observation was done according to the values of 235U/238U activity ratio indicating the occurrence of uranium faction from the global fallout of nuclear weapon tests.

Atmospheric fallout impact on 210Po and 210Pb content in wild growing mushrooms.

The atmospheric fallout impact on 210Po and 210Pb content in fruitbodies of wild growing mushrooms collected from different environments were investigated. The samples of morphologically different mushroom species, namely bay bolete (Imleria badia (Fr.) Vizzini), slippery jack (Suillus luteus (L.) Roussel), fairy ring mushroom (Marasmius oreades (Bolton) Fr.) and common earthball (Scleroderma citrinum Pers.) with their mycelium and soil substrate were collected. Their fruitbodies were separated into cap skin, cap flesh and stem. Also mycelium and soil substrate were collected. The results showed the highest 210Po and 210Pb activity concentrations were found in Marasmius oreades cap skin: 3.20 ± 0.12 and 21.1 ± 0.5 Bq kg-1 ww, respectively, which constituted 31.2 and 78.7% of their content in the total fruitbody mass. In the case of open space wild growing mushrooms, their whole caps contain a significantly higher amount of 210Po and 210Pb when compared to the stem, and their content in the whole cap was determined mainly by concentrations in the cap skin.

Radiotoxic 210Po and 210Pb in uncooked and cooked Boletaceae mushrooms from Yunnan (China) including intake rates and effective exposure doses.

The article presents results of a study on the radioactivity and exposure from a highly toxic alpha-radiation emitter polonium 210Po, and beta emitter lead 210Pb in several species of Boletaceae mushrooms and stir-fried mushroom meals from China. Edible mushrooms can efficiently concentrate some elements in flesh but little is known on highly toxic alpha- and beta emitters. In this study, the absolute values of radioactivity (Bq·kg-1 dry weight) for 210Po were in the range 2.0 ± 2.0 to 308 ± 9 in fresh species and 22.1 ± 1.2 to 142 ± 4 in a ready to eat meals, and for 210Pb were 3.6 ± 0.5 to 51.8 ± 2.9 and 3.0 ± 0.14 to 9.6 ± 0.5, respectively. The studied batches of a corresponding species of mushrooms - raw and cooked - were not equivalent regarding the homogeneity of the composition. However the raw mushrooms (ingredient for any cooking), showed greater radioactivity in relation to stir-fried meals, and that can imply on a partial loss of nuclides. A daily portion of 100 g of stir-fried mushrooms could provide 210Po and 210Pb radiation in the range 0.2-2.1 µSv and 0.02-0.06 µSv, respectively. Assessed, the cumulative doses of exposure to 210Po were 1.4-14 µSv in a week period and 75-722 µSv at annual timescale, and of 210Pb amounted at 0.15-0.46 µSv and 8.3-24 µSv, respectively. The 210Po can be possibly considered as a major source of ionizing radiation activity for persons with high mushroom meals consumption in SW Asia, while the number of available data is limited.

Uranium (234U, 238U) and thorium (230Th, 232Th) in mushrooms of genus Leccinum and Leccinellum and the potential effective ionizing radiation dose assessment for human.

Evaluated has been bioconcentration potential by fungi and risk to human consumers from exposure to natural long-lived radioactive uranium (234U, 238U) and thorium (230Th, 232Th) sequestered in stems, caps and the whole fruiting bodies by mushrooms of the genus Leccinum and Leccinellum. Edible species in the study were collected from boreal forests in the northern regions of Poland and investigated: red-capped scaber (Leccinum aurantiacum), orange oak bolete (Leccinum aurantiacum var. quercinum), foxy bolete (Leccinum vulpinum), slate bolete (Leccinum aurantiacum var. duriusculum) and hazel bolete (Leccinellum pseudoscabrum). The study showed the species accumulated uranium (234U, 238U) and thorium (230Th, 232Th) form soil to some degree but the calculated values of the bioconcentration factor were below 1. The evaluation showed that Leccinum and Leccinellum mushrooms can contribute to annual effective radiation dose maximally at about 0.9 µSv. Hence, consumption of these mushrooms might increase the annual effective ionizing radiation dose received by a human, while the exposure is considered low from the toxicological point of view even if eaten at elevated amounts.

The level of 210Pb extraction efficiency in Polish herbal teas and the possible effective dose to consumers.

The article presents the results of a study on the level of 210Pb efficiency extraction in Polish herbal teas as a possible additional source of this radioactive isotope in the human diet. The twelve most popular herbal teas available in Poland and their infusions in filtered and tap water were analyzed as well as 210Pb activity concentrations and effective doses (radiation) were calculated. The highest activity concentration of 210Pb in dried plants was determined in cistus - 35.5 Bq kg-1 dry wt, while the lowest was in milk thistle - 3.25 Bq kg-1 dry wt what gives respectively for cistus 46.1 ± 0.7 and 6.50 ± 0.29 mBq for milk thistle per one tea bag. The extraction efficiencies in the filtered water oscillated from 5.1 ± 0.5 for milk thistle to 27.3 ± 0.8% for cistus, while for the tap water they ranged from 7.3 ± 0.6% for lime to 33.3 ± 2.2% for white mulberry. Based on the study, it was found that the analyzed herbal tea consumption would give a small portion of the annual effective dose of 210Pb received in Poland - the annual effective radiation dose of 210Pb taken with herbal tea infusions (one glass daily) was calculated from 0.08 ± 0.01 to 3.17 ± 0.08 µSv.

Isotopes of 210Po and 210Pb in Hazel bolete (Leccinellum pseudoscabrum) - bioconcentration, distribution and related dose assessment.

The hazel bolete Leccinellum pseudoscabrum (Kallenb.) Miksík 2017 specimens and beneath soil layer (0-10 cm) have been examined on the occasion of 210Po and 210Pb activity concentrations, the nuclide bioaccumulation potential by species and distribution in fruit bodies. Mushrooms and forest soils came from six geographically distant locations in the northern and central parts of Poland. The threat to humans from 210Po and 210Pb contained in mushrooms has been also assessed. The absolute values of the 210Po radioactivity, respectively, in caps and stems of fruit bodies were in the range 0.74 ± 0.06-8.59 ± 0.36 Bq kg-1 dry biomass and from 0.81 ± 0.06-8.23 ± 0.37 Bq kg-1 dry biomass, while the values of the 210Pb radioactivity in caps and stems were in the range 0.61 ± 0.04-6.33 ± 0.22 Bq kg-1 dry biomass and 0.83 ± 0.04-4.59 ± 0.24 Bq kg-1 dry biomass, respectively. A potential related effective dose assessment showed that mushrooms L. pseudoscabrum can contribute at 0.89-10.3 µSv kg-1 db from 210Po decay and 0.42-4.37 µSv kg-1 db from 210Pb decay.

On uranium 234U and 238U radionuclides in calcium and magnesium supplements and the potential effective radiation dose assessment to the consumers.

In this survey the concentrations of the radioactive nuclides uranium 234U and 238U were determined in the most popular calcium and magnesium supplements for adults in Poland. It was also investigated whether the supplements contain uranium isotopes and could be a potential source in the human diet and have an influence on the value of effective radiation doses to the consumers. The analyzed calcium and magnesium pharmaceuticals contained organic or inorganic compounds, several of natural origin as mussel's shells, fish extracts, or sedimentary rocks. As results showed, 234U and 238U concentrations in natural origin calcium and magnesium supplements were significantly higher than in other, synthetic ones. The highest 234U and 238U activity concentrations were determined in tablets from mussel's shells. The radiochemical hazard was assessed and the highest annual radiation dose was found in 234U and 238U present in supplements produced from shells or dolomite rock.

210Po and 210Pb in forest mushrooms of genus Leccinum and topsoil from northern Poland and its contribution to the radiation dose.

Wild growing mushrooms are traditional food items for man and also an important source of nutrients for small and big wildlife. Nevertheless, they can be species - specifically vulnerable for contamination with heavy metals and radionuclides. We studied a less known phenomenon of accumulation of highly toxic, the alpha-radiation emitter such as 210Po and the beta emitter 210Pb by three Leccinum mushrooms: orange oak bolete L. aurantiacum (Bull.) Gray (previous name Leccinum aurantiacum var. quercinum Pilát), foxy bolete L. vulpinum Watling and slate bolete L. duriusculum (Schulzer ex Kalchbr.) Singer. Fungal and soil materials were collected from areas of a different geochemical composition in the northern regions of Poland. In parallel evaluated was the risk to human consumer due to possible intake of 210Po and 210Pb with a mushroom meal. Results showed a heterogeneous distribution of 210Po and 210Pb activity concentrations within caps and stipes of fruiting bodies. Overall activity concentration for whole dried fungi material ranged from 0.59 ±â€¯0.38 to 3.2 ±â€¯0.2 Bq 210Po kg-1 and from 0.45 ±â€¯0.04 to 3.1 ±â€¯0.2 Bq 210Pb kg-1. Evaluation showed that Leccinum mushrooms consumed by locals in typical quantity of 0.5 kg (dry biomass) can contribute into annual effective radiation dose at 0.90-3.81 µSv from 210Po decay and 0.31-2.14 µSv from 210Pb decay, which is a small portion of the annual effective radiation dose of 210Po and 210Pb for human inhabiting the northern regions of Poland.

Is ecological food also radioecological? - 210Po and 210Pb studies.

Presented are results of a study on accumulation of naturally occurring 210Po and 210Pb in ecological and conventional farming food products in Poland: fruits, vegetables and cereals. The main idea behind this research was to determine the activity concentrations of 210Po and 210Pb in ecological and commercial food as well as calculate and compare the effective dose (radiation) connected to different origin of analyzed food products consumption. The studies showed the majority of all compared food samples contained similar 210Po and 210Pb activities and statistically, the consumption of organic and commercial food would give similar annual effective dose.

210Po and 210Pb bioaccumulation and possible related dose assessment in parasol mushroom (Macrolepiota procera).

Presented are results of a study on accumulation and distribution of 210Po and 210Pb in the fruitbodies of parasol mushroom (Macrolepiota procera) and risk to human consumer due to exposure from highly radiotoxic decay particles emitted by both radionuclides. Mushrooms were collected from 16 forested places in central and northern regions of Poland. Activity concentrations of 210Po and 210Pb were determined after radiochemical separation of nuclides and subsequent measurement using validated method and alpha spectrometer. Results showed on spatially heterogeneous distribution of the 210Po and 210Po activity concentrations in M. procera and two interpolation maps were prepared. Activity concentrations of nuclides in dried caps of M. procera were in the range from 3.38 ± 0.41 to 16.70 ± 0.33 Bq∙210Po ∙kg-1 and from 5.11 ± 0.21 to 13.42 ± 0.30 Bq∙210Pb ∙kg-1. Consumption of M. procera foraged in central and northern Poland should not contribute significantly to the annual effective radiation doses from 210Po and 210Pb due to amount of both nuclides accumulated by fungus in caps.

210Pb in magnesium dietary supplements.

The idea behind this study was to investigate the most popular magnesium dietary supplements as a potential additional source of 210Pb in the human diet. The paper presents the results of 210Pb activities determined in different magnesium supplements, as well as an estimation of the annual effective radiation doses from 210Pb decay. The results showed that the highest value of 210Pb activity was found in a magnesium supplement of natural origin (dolomite) with a value of 2.97 ± 0.18 mBq g-1. The highest annual radiation dose from 210Pb obtained from the magnesium daily recommended value (0.4 g of pure Mg) was calculated for dolomite tablets as 3.71 ± 0.02 µSv·year-1.