On July 22, Minsk /BelTA correspondent/. Mushrooms must undergo radiological control, as they are the strongest accumulators of radionuclides, the Republican Centre for Hygiene, Epidemiology and Public Health informed BelTA. In certain types of mushrooms, the content of caesium-137 exceeds permissible levels even in relatively clean areas (up to 1 Ci/km2). The most dangerous in terms of radiation accumulation are: bitter mushroom (gor'kushka), Polish mushroom, slippery jack (maslyonok), saffron milk cap (grud' nastoyashchiy i chyornyy), and pink russula (volnushka rozovaya), green russula (zelenka). The collection of these mushrooms is permitted only in forests with a soil contamination density of caesium-137 up to 1 Ci/km2. Weak and medium accumulators of radiocaesium mushrooms include: chanterelle (lisichka nastoyashchaya), porcini mushroom (belyy grib), orange-cap boletus (podosinovik), brown birch boletus (podberyozovik), and green-leg blewit (ryadovka). They can be collected in forests with a soil contamination density of caesium-137 up to 2 Ci/km2. The harvesting of wild berries and fruits is permitted only in forests with a soil contamination density of caesium-137 up to 2 Ci/km2. Information on the radiation situation in areas where mushrooms and berries are to be collected can be obtained from forestry enterprises. All collected forest gifts must be checked for radionuclide content. This can be done at territorial centres of hygiene and epidemiology, at forestry enterprises with radiation control posts, as well as in the laboratories of veterinary and sanitary expertise at markets. The centre's specialists warn that purchasing wild berries and mushrooms from unauthorised trading places may negatively affect human health. Most vendors selling these products along highways, as a rule, do not check them for radioactive contamination.-0-

BELTA