Accumulation of Natural Radionuclides by Some Edible Wild Mushrooms in Ekiti State, Southwestern, Nigeria

Abstract

Activity concentrations of primordial radionuclides such as 40K, 226Ra and 232Th were determined in edible mushrooms samples in Ekiti State Nigeria. The edible mushrooms collected are Termitomyces striatus, Psathyrella atroumbonata, Termitomyces robustus, Pleurotus tuber-regium and Pleurotus squarrosulus. The activity measurements were carried out by gamma spectrometry. The average concentrations of 40K varied from 254.17 ± 46.78 to 416.07 ± 68.43 Bq·kg-1, 226Ra concentrations varied from 2.68 ± 0.82 to 21.64 ± 7.23 Bq·kg-1 and 232Th concentrations varied from 8.57 ± 3.25 to 10.98 ± 4.31 Bq·kg-1. The concentrations were converted to effective dose. Effective doses calculated were found to be below maximum permissible levels. Therefore, no health risk is envisaged for those that normally consumed these mushrooms.