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. Cs activity concentrations in raw, button stage B. edulis were 36 ± 1 Bq kg ww (360 ± 1 Bq kg dw), increasing to 70 ± 2 Bq kg ww (290 ± 7 Bq kg 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 ww (25 ± 7 Bq kg dw) in raw and 4.9 ± 0.7 Bq kg ww (19 ± 4 Bq kg dw) in braised fruitbodies. In comparison to raw B. edulis, braising enriched the activity concentrations of Cs at 110 ± 69% and K at 80 ± 56% on a whole (wet) weight basis.