Radioactivity in the environment and food chain at mt. Maljen, Serbia

Abstract

This paper provides activity concentrations of40K,238U,226Ra,232Th, and137Cs in samples of cultivated soil, hay, cow milk, cheese, mushrooms, and mosses collected at Mt. Maljen, Serbia, during 2018 and 2019. The average contents of40K (435 ± 33 Bq/kg),238U (42 ± 5 Bq/kg),226Ra (42 ± 4 Bq/kg) and232Th (47 ± 4 Bq/kg) in the soil are slightly higher than the global means. Radiation hazard index is less than one.137Cs is detected in soil (3.1 – 111 Bq/kg), hay (4.6 – 9.4 Bq/kg), cow milk (2.0 ± 0.2 Bq/kg), cheese (1.7 ± 0.2 Bq/kg), mushrooms (26 ± 2 Bq/kg), and mosses (21 ± 2 Bq/kg). Investigated dairy products are safe for consumption.