Radioactive mushrooms pose a threat to residents of Krasnoyarsk
In Kransoyarsk, residents are cautioned about a new danger: radioactive mushrooms. Scientists assert that hospital admissions for mushroom foragers increase each year, with hundreds seeking medical attention following mushroom picking.
The causes of poisoning are not only toxic mushroom species. Common edible mushrooms can accumulate radio nuclides and heavy metals in harmful concentrations.
According to research conducted by the Chemico-Toxicological Research Department of the Kransoyarsk Branch of the Federal State Unitary Enterprise "Center of Expertise for Agricultural Products," mushrooms have the ability to absorb radioactive cesium, with levels of this element in certain mushrooms exceeding contamination levels in forest litter by up to 20 times.
Mushrooms particularly active in absorbing radiation grow in overly moistened areas.
The mushrooms with the highest capacity for absorbing radioactive substances are chanterelles, boletoids, birch boletes, bay boletes, russulas, and red india russulas, as well as red widow's-caps, belly-ache mushrooms, and black morels. This is due to their mycelium being located in the upper layers of the soil where radio nuclide concentrations are highest.
The high absorption capacity of mushrooms is attributed to their biochemical composition. The main mineral component of mushroom fruit bodies is potassium, which chemically resembles cesium-137, facilitating its active absorption. Even on relatively clean territories, mycelium can concentrate harmful substances, as it absorbs them from a wide area.
The lowest amounts of radioactive elements are found in polypores, ink caps, wild puffballs, field mushrooms, russulas, and brittle giants. Mushrooms with white flesh, mushrooms belonging to the umbrella family, and umbrella mushrooms, although they accumulate slightly more radio nuclides, are relatively safe.
Particularly dangerous are the first mushrooms after a drought period, as they may contain increased amounts of toxic elements. Researchers recommend avoiding the collection of overripe mushrooms, as they contain more harmful compounds. Additionally, it is advisable to avoid collecting mushrooms along highways, in industrial zones, and within city limits.
Scientists note that harmful chemicals are widespread, as industrial emissions are transferred through air masses and fall as precipitation even in ecologically favorable regions, making them potentially dangerous for mushroom foraging.
[Image: The Federal Service for Supervision of Natural Resources and Environment]
- News from Kransoyarsk warns about the rising health-and-wellness concerns, as hospital admissions for mushroom foragers have increased yearly due to the ingestion of radioactive mushrooms.
- In addition to toxic mushroom species, common edible mushrooms can also accumulate radio nuclides and heavy metals, posing a health risk.
- Climate change seems to influence mushroom growth, as those growing in overly moistened areas have shown a higher ability to absorb radioactive cesium, increasing the danger for foragers.
- The environmental science behind this phenomenon reveals that certain mushrooms, such as chanterelles, boletoids, and red widow's-caps, have a higher capacity to absorb radioactive substances due to their mycelium's location in the high-radiation upper soil layers.
