Advancing environmental monitoring: A comparative analysis of sequential radiochemical methods for precise alpha-particle spectrometry analysis of Am in soil and marine sediment samples.

Environmental monitoring of alpha-emitting radionuclides is crucial for assessing the long-term impacts of nuclear activities and understanding ecosystem dynamics. Thus, long-term marine environmental monitoring needs a precise analytical method for determining isotopes in sediment and soil samples. Because Am is the first decay product of Pu, its activity in the environment will grow during the next 50 years.

Assessment of cancer risk and radiological effects from Po and Pb 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 Po and lead Pb 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.

Vertical distribution of Am 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 Am in the sediments of the Baltic Sea is limited. Thus, this study aimed to determine Am in sediment cores collected from the southern Baltic Sea.

The presence of radiotoxic Po and Pb in Ukrainian wild medicinal plants and the assessment of related dose and cancer risk.

Herbal plants are considered natural pharmaceuticals but also accumulate chemical elements and compounds at high levels. Po and Pb are highly radiotoxic and may cause carcinogenesis due to ionizing radiation. Thirteen of the most popular wild-growing herbaceous plant species, mostly included in the European Pharmacopoeia, were collected across Ukraine.

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

We determined radiotoxic Po in roasted coffee beans from different regions worldwide, the beverages, and tried to create the prediction model of Po content based on its growth location. Additionally, the experiments on Po losses and extraction were performed to describe the actual exposure to Po. Po concentrations in coffee beans and brews tuned out low (maximally of 0.

On Po and Pb in algae diet supplements - The assessed radiation hazard of aquatic superfoods.

Algae are believed to give health benefits. However, the studies showed they contain toxic elements, including radionuclides, and may affect human health. The study presents the values of activity concentrations of Po and Pb in the algae supplements available worldwide for adults.

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

Presented have been the results of inventory estimation of anthropogenic beta-emitting Pu, in different components in the southern Baltic Sea ecosystem. The total Pu activity present in the Gulf of Gdańsk and the Gdańsk Basin for 2021 was estimated at 1.99 TBq and 7.

On the occurrence, origin, and intake of the nuclides, Po and Pb, 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 Po, and beta-emitting Pb, 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.

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

Po and Pb occur naturally and are the most radiotoxic isotopes of the uranium (U) decay chain. Samples of and related mushroom species, including , , and , 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 Po and Po was heterogeneous, with activities varying from 0.

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

A considerable amount of data has been published on the accumulation of radiocaesium (Cs and particularly, Cs) 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.

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

We studied activity concentrations of artificial Cs and natural K 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 Cs activity concentration was significantly higher in raw and braised button stage samples and decreased as the fruitbody matured, but conversely, K was lower in the raw button stage than in older fruitbodies.

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.

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

This pioneering study aimed to determine the activity concentrations of Po, Pb and uranium (U, U, U) 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 Po, Pb and uranium (U, U, U) geographical distribution in Yunnan province (China) were presented.

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

The atmospheric fallout impact on Po and Pb 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.

Radiotoxic Po and Pb 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 Po, and beta emitter lead Pb 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 dry weight) for Po were in the range 2.

Uranium (U, U) and thorium (Th, Th) 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 (U, U) and thorium (Th, Th) 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.

The level of Pb 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 Pb 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 Pb activity concentrations and effective doses (radiation) were calculated. The highest activity concentration of Pb in dried plants was determined in cistus - 35.

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

The hazel bolete Leccinellum pseudoscabrum (Kallenb.) Mikšík 2017 specimens and beneath soil layer (0-10 cm) have been examined on the occasion of Po and Pb 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.

On uranium U and U 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 U and U 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.

Po and Pb 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 Po and the beta emitter Pb by three Leccinum mushrooms: orange oak bolete L.

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

Presented are results of a study on accumulation and distribution of Po and Pb 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 Po and Pb were determined after radiochemical separation of nuclides and subsequent measurement using validated method and alpha spectrometer.

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

Presented are results of a study on accumulation of naturally occurring Po and Pb 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 Po and Pb 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 Po and Pb activities and statistically, the consumption of organic and commercial food would give similar annual effective dose.

Determination of Po and Pb in red-capped scaber (Leccinum aurantiacum): bioconcentration and possible related dose assessment.

The paper presents the studies on Po and Pb activity determination in red-capped scaber (Leccinum aurantiacum (Bulliard) Gray) collected in northern Poland. The aims of the studies were to determine Po and Pb content in analyzed mushrooms, evaluate the bioconcentration levels, and estimate possible related annual effective radiation dose to mushrooms consumers. The activities of Po and Pb in red-capped scaber were un-uniform and depended on sampling sites.

Pb in magnesium dietary supplements.

The idea behind this study was to investigate the most popular magnesium dietary supplements as a potential additional source of Pb in the human diet. The paper presents the results of Pb activities determined in different magnesium supplements, as well as an estimation of the annual effective radiation doses from Pb decay. The results showed that the highest value of Pb activity was found in a magnesium supplement of natural origin (dolomite) with a value of 2.

Radiolead (210)Pb and (210)Po/(210)Pb activity ratios in calcium supplements and the assessment of their possible dose to consumers.

This paper presents the results of pioneer study of the most popular calcium supplements as a potential additional source of radiolead (210)Pb in human diet. The analyzed calcium pharmaceutics contained organic or inorganic calcium compounds; some came from natural sources as mussels' shells, fish extracts, or sedimentary rocks. The idea was to investigate the naturally occurring (210)Pb activity in different calcium supplements and calculate the annual effective radiation dose from radiolead (210)Pb decay in consumed calcium supplement.