Three times in a season. How mushrooms on Komarovka are checked for cesium-137, and how it is dangerous

Mushroom season on Komarovka is in full swing, but not every batch reaches the counter. They are tested for cesium-137, and sometimes the numbers are higher than normal. How dangerous mushrooms are weeded out and how many samples have already been investigated this season, read the material of the Minsk-Novosti correspondent.

Before the mushrooms reach the shelves, they are checked in the laboratory of veterinary sanitary examination. The procedure is mandatory for everyone who trades in the market.

- Now most of the subsidy, before that there were many foxes. During the current season, as it began, we had only three excesses of radiation on mushrooms. Two in Volozhinsky district and one in Molodechnensky. The others went well. In August, 145 samples of mushrooms were taken, for the current month already about 80, said Olga Novikova, a veterinarian.

Mushrooms are tested for radionuclide cesium-137. It is dangerous because, getting into the body with food, it is not excreted, only accumulates. The check goes by species because each accumulates radiation in its own way. The sample is sent to the lab. If the party is large, the specialists go by car to the place.

- If measured per liter volume, studies are faster because the density of the sample is higher. The whole process takes an average of 15-20 minutes. First, we check the homogeneity of the party - from one forest, the site is collected. If the homogeneity is different, we divide the batch in half, and from there we take mushrooms for research, the laboratory said.

After checking the products, a coupon is issued, which will indicate how many becquerels are contained in this sample. The maximum level for mushrooms is 370 Bq.

On the shelves of the seasonal market there is a wide selection of mushrooms. Here they sell hogs, hogs, butter, berries, foxes. There are also dried mushrooms - in bags, on weight. Prices for hogs range from 40 to 110 BYN per kg, chanterelles - 12, for a bucket of oil - 20 BYN.

- Lots of pods. There are young borovichki, but for now a little - as the rain will go, and the mushrooms will go, hopefully. I am not the first year collecting under Osipovichi and bring here. I checked quickly this morning. And so everything, like last season: buyers are interested, take, says the seller.

A little away from the rest of the mushrooms on the shelves grouped chanterelles - there were really many, of different sizes. The price is 12-13 BYN per kg. Ekaterina told about her mushrooms, who brought them from the Vitebsk region:

- The foxes are going well now, take willingly. But to collect, you need to know the places. Now the berries are gone, you need an eye for them too. Recently I was in the store - there are chanterelles in a small package are lying, and in terms of kilograms comes out 40 BYN. And you don't know where they grew up, who they are. It's natural, it's in the woods. 12 BYN vs. 40 is a big difference.

While sellers lay out the goods, buyers walk at the counters. One of them, Elizabeth, comes to Komarovka regularly.

- I trust the market, so I always buy here. I already have a tradition to go to Komarovka once a week, because everything here is natural. I bought mushrooms last week. I don’t dare to go to the forest myself – it’s scary, I’m not sure about my knowledge. And here I bought - and calm, - said the girl.

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