1.Distribution and transport of 137Cs in soil and wild edible mushrooms
Zhenglin YE ; Qiang ZHOU ; Fei TUO ; Baolu YANG
Chinese Journal of Radiological Health 2025;34(3):437-443
Nuclear weapon tests and nuclear leakage accidents have resulted in worldwide contamination by radionuclides, and 137Cs persists in the environment because of its long half-life. Due to their radionuclide-enrichment properties, wild edible mushrooms take up 137Cs from the surrounding matrix and store it in their fruiting bodies, thus becoming an indicator medium for radionuclide contamination and can be used to evaluate soil contamination with radionuclides. However, there are large variations in 137Cs activity concentrations in different wild edible mushrooms depending on regions, species, and lifestyles. Therefore, it is important to carry out the detection of 137Cs in wild edible mushrooms to understand the mechanisms of 137Cs transfer distribution and enrichment and to monitor the environment. This paper reviews the studies on 137Cs in wild edible mushrooms in recent years both in China and other countries. This article analyses the content of 137Cs in wild edible mushrooms in different regions, the transfer process from soil to wild edible mushroom fruiting bodies, and the distribution of 137Cs in wild edible mushrooms. These results provide theoretical support for the future monitoring of radionuclides in wild edible mushrooms on a nationwide scale, the establishment of relevant databases, and in-depth research on the mechanism of radionuclide transfer.
2.Transfer of cascade coincidence summing correction factors
Lingnan KONG ; Baolu YANG ; Zhenglin YE ; Jing ZHANG ; Qiang ZHOU
Chinese Journal of Radiological Health 2024;33(3):283-287
Objective To further extend the application of coincidence summing correction factor transfer experiments through the analysis of relevant measurements. Methods The passive efficiency was simulated using BE5030 high-purity germanium (HPGe) γ-energy spectrometer equipped with LabSOCS, and the total efficiency was simulated using LabSOCS in GENIE 2000 spectrum analysis software, which was used for calculating the coincidence summing correction factor. The coincidence summing correction factor transfer experiments were performed using the measurements with the point source containing 134Cs, 60Co, and 137Cs as well as the body source to obtain the coincidence summing correction factors of other HPGe γ-energy spectrometers. Results The coincidence summing correction factors for 134Cs and 60Co were obtained using the BE5030 γ-energy spectrum. In verification by certificate activity, the absolute value of the maximum deviation was within 3.53%. Using coincidence summing correction factor transfer experiments, these factors were transferred to other high-purity germanium γ spectrometers. In verification by certificate activity, the absolute value of the maximum deviation was within 5.86%. Conclusion The coincidence summing correction factors calculated using simulated total efficiency by calling LabSOCS in the GENIE 2000 spectrum analysis software are effective in correction, and can be used as correction factors in standard laboratories. Through coincidence summing correction factor transfer experiments, the coincidence summing correction of other high-purity germanium γ-energy spectrometers can be achieved, which broadens the application of coincidence summing correction method.
3.Analysis of the content of five radionuclides in wild edible fungi
Zhenglin YE ; Qiang ZHOU ; Fei TUO ; Baolu YANG ; Zeshu LI ; Weihao QIN ; Shuying KONG
Chinese Journal of Radiological Health 2025;34(2):242-248
Objective To determine the content and distribution characteristics of the artificial radionuclide 137Cs and the natural radionuclides 210Pb, 226Ra, 228Ra, and 40K in wild edible fungi, and calculate the committed effective dose due to 137Cs and 210Pb in wild edible fungi. Methods Thirty samples of wild edible fungi were collected and their caps and stems were separated. A total of 60 samples were measured for 137Cs, 210Pb, 226Ra, 228Ra, and 40K using a BE5030 wide-energy, low-background, high-purity germanium γ spectrometer. The paired analysis of the four radionuclides 226Ra, 210Pb, 137Cs, and 40K was performed using SPSS 11.5. Results Among the 60 samples, the detection rates and dry weight specific activity ranges of 137Cs, 210Pb, 226Ra, 228Ra, and 40K were 97% and 0.62-384 Bq/kg, 73% and 6.4-159 Bq/kg, 52% and 0.7-28.8 Bq/kg, 5% and 0.43-2.18 Bq/kg and 100% and (77.4-264) × 10 Bq/kg, respectively. Conclusion Based on the analysis of the 60 samples, the detection rate of radionuclides is in the order of 40K, 137Cs, 210Pb, 226Ra, and 228Ra. In terms of the specific activity, the distribution of 40K and 226Ra in wild edible fungi in the same region is basically uniform, while the content of 210Pb and 137Cs fluctuates in different samples. Although 137Cs and 210Pb can be detected in most of the wild edible fungi, the annual committed effective dose due to ingestion of wild edible fungi is negligible.