Micellar enhanced microfiltration of strontium

Gamma-ray spectroscopy has been widely used in many areas of applied science. We have used the method to compare the¹³⁷Cs contamination in fungi collected in central Sweden, Ukraine (Kiev region) and southern Ontario, Canada. Mean activities were comparable for Sweden and Ukraine, but were much lower in the North American samples. Many European mushroom species which are considered as prized edibles, contained unacceptably high levels of¹³⁷Cs (1 kBq/kg) and should not be sold for human consumption. By contrast, no activity in mushrooms collected in Ontario or northern Michigan exceed 1 kBq/kg. The excessive contamination in European mushrooms is primarily due to the Chemobyl reactor accident of 1986. However, our observations suggest that about 20% of the¹³⁷Cs contamination in the Ukraine is not due to this accident.