Radioactive Mushrooms Detected in Germany 37 Years After Chernobyl

The Unseen Danger

Do you worry about being poisoned by wild mushrooms? Well there is even more to be concerned about! 37 years after the Chernobyl nuclear reactor catastrophe, many wild mushrooms in Germany still contain radioactive cesium-137 that was released by the accident. It is primarily in a few regions of Bavaria where mushrooms can be found exceeding the recommended limit of 600 becquerels per kilogram of fresh mushroom.

Origins of the Threat

Cesium-137 does not occur naturally. It is a radioactive isotope that is produced primarily during nuclear fission in nuclear power plants. Once ingested, it has the ability to accumulate in bone tissue and damage DNA. Over time, people can develop leukemia and bone cancer.

Scientific Findings

A new report was released on August 28, 2023 by the German Federal Office for Radiation Protection (Bundesamt für Strahlenschutz – BfS) wherein 165 species from sites in southern Germany were analyzed for their Cesium-137 levels.

Mushrooms to Watch

Many mushroom species were found to have high levels of radiation. Species such as Gelbstieligen Trompetenpfifferlingen (Cantharellus tubaeformis), Gemeinen Rotfußröhrlingen (Xerocomellus chrysenteron), Maronenröhrlingen (Boletus badius), Mohrenkopfmilchlingen (Lactarius lignyotus), Ockertäublingen (Russula citrina), Rotbraunen Scheidenstreiflingen (Amanita fulva), Violetten Lacktrichterlingen (Laccaria amethystina), and Ziegenlippen (Xerocomus subtomentosus) at times contained more than 1,000 becquerels per kilogram of fresh mushroom.

Of note, some individual cases of Rotbraune Semmelstoppelpilze (Hydnum rufescens) and Semmelstoppelpilze (Hydnum repandum) were found to have over 4,000 becquerels per kilogram!

Safe Choices

Meanwhile, many species in the same areas and even in the most heavily contaminated sites tested for having less than 10 becquerels per kilogram. The species list of such mushrooms was extensive: Beutelstäubling (Handkea excipuliformis), Blauer Träuschling (Stropharia caerulea), Blutroter Filzröhrling (Hortiboletus rubellus), Brauner Riesenscheidenstreifling (Amanita pachyvolvata), Braunroter Lacktrichterling (Laccaria proxima), Braunroter Ledertäubling (Russula integra), Braunschuppiger Riesenchampignon (Agaricus augustus), Dunkelfaseriger Champignon (Agaricus fuscofibrillosus), Hasenröhrling (Gyroporus astaneus), Honiggelber Hallimasch (Armillaria mellea), Judasohr (Auricularia sp.), Krause Glucke (Sparassis crispa), Kuhmaul (Gomphidius glutinosus), Kurzstieliger Weichritterling (Melanoleuca brevipes), Lachsblättriger Schwarztäubling (Russula anthracina), Mönchskopf (Infundibulicybe geotropa), Ockerbrauner Trichterling (Infundibulicybe gibba), Panzer-Rasling (Lyophyllum decastes), Riesenporling (Meripilus giganteus), Rostbrauner Filzröhrling (Xerocomus sp.), Safran-Riesenschirmling (Chlorophyllum rhacodes), Schwefelporling (Laetiporus sulphureus), Stadtchampignon (Agaricus bitorquis), Sternschuppiger Riesenschirmling (Macrolepiota fuliginosa), Violetter Rötelritterling (Clitocybe nuda), Waldchampignon (Agaricus silvaticus), Wässriger Saumpilz (Psathyrella piluliformis), Weißer Büschelrasling (Clitocybe connata), Würziger Tellerling (Rhodocybe gemina), Zweifarbiger Lacktrichterling (Laccaria bicolor) and Zweifarbiger Scheidenstreifling (Amanita battarrae).

So who must be careful of radioactive mushrooms, and are the wild mushrooms in markets near Bavaria a cause for a concern?

Market Regulations

Safe Alternatives

Cultivated mushrooms were not examined due to being grown on agricultural substrates known to not contain radioactivity. Those living in areas where radioactive mushrooms are making it to the market who wish to avoid radiation entirely can choose from cultivated mushrooms and avoid the wild ones entirely.

The Forager’s Dilemma

Yet for those who are accustomed to foraging their own wild mushrooms or feeding them to friends and family who are not familiar with foraging, the radiation is still a cause for concern. Many people may inadvertently serve a meal that greatly surpasses the recommended radiation limits if they are not careful with their species selections.

Expert Advice

Dr. Inge Paulini gave her educated recommendation stating, “Ultimately it is a personal decision: the occasional consumption of mushrooms with a higher level of contamination leads to only a small additional dose of radiation. However, it can easily be avoided if one leaves potentially highly contaminated types of mushrooms in the forest.”

Decades Later

Gratefully, the half-life of cesium-137 is roughly 30 years, so more than half of the radioactivity has dissipated in the 37 years that have passed since the 1986 nuclear reactor accident. Even so, the radiation is present, and those who choose to consume these mushrooms must be cautious of potential risks or face the consequences. As for neighboring countries, they too are in need of dynamic research, as they too had significant cesium-137 deposits in the wake of the disaster.