Abstract
At present, 20 years after the Chernobyl nuclear power plant (CNNP) accident, contamination of radioactive cesium still remains in soil. In this report, we have selected mushrooms and potatoes since both are staple food of Ukraine population. Samples were collected in 2003 from Zhytomir district near Chernobyl, which is north part of Ukraine and have measured Cs-137 concentration. Samples were ashed and then put in a U-8 container up to a height of 10mm and radioactive cesium was measured using a germanium semiconductor detector. Furthermore, soil samples were collected from the same area of food samples. The sampling depth was 20 cm with layers:0-2, 2-4, 4-6, 6-8, 8-10, 10-15, and 15-20. We have measured radioactive Cs concentration of seven layers for depth profile and separately from 0-6 cm soil layer that is considered for transfer factor. Concentration of Cs-137 decreases with deeper layer and there is transfer of radioactive Cs from soil to food even now. In case of Mushrooms, we have noticed Cs-137 concentration was more than K-40 concentration as well as Cs-134. In case of potatoes, concentration of Cs-137 was less than mushrooms. The committed effective dose was calculated using the dose conversion coefficient of ICRP Publ.67, assuming that such food is taken for one year. The committed effective dose for one adult is 0.9mSv due to Cs-137 in mushrooms. However, the amount of potatoes consumed in the Ukraine is about 5 times more while comparing with Japan, and the committed effective dose for an adult is about 1.5mSv.
