Radiocaesium Contamination of Mushrooms at High- and Low-Level Chernobyl Exposure Sites and Its Consequences for Public Health.

We compare the specific activities of 137Cs and 40K in stipes and caps of three different common mushroom species (Xerocomus badius, Russula ochroleuca and Armillariella mellea) measured at the Czech Chernobyl hot spot in the Opava area (Silesia) and at a low-exposed site at the Beskydy mountains in 2011. The highest values of 137Cs were found in caps of Xerocomus badius and Russula ochroleuca in the Opava area (11.8 and 8.77 kBq/kg, respectively). The source of 137Cs was verified by the measurement of the 134Cs/137Cs ratio. Based on our results, we estimate an effective dose per year due to radiocaesium intake in the two investigated areas for Xerocomus badius, one of the most popular edible mushrooms in the Czech Republic. In 2011, the effective dose reached the maximum value of 0.102 mSv in the Opava area and 0.004 mSv at the low-exposed site at the Beskydy mountains. Therefore, it does not represent a significant risk for public health.

MCNP APPROACHES FOR DOSE RATES MODELING IN LABORATORY FOR NEUTRON ACTIVATION ANALYSIS AND GAMMA SPECTROMETRY AT OSTRAVA.

The Laboratory for Neutron Activation Analysis and Gamma Spectrometry at the VSB-Technical University of Ostrava was equipped with the neutron generator MP320 operating on the principle of the deuterium-tritium fusion and producing 108 neutrons/s at maximum. To ensure radiation protection of radiation workers and public outside the laboratory, the concrete shielding was designed and its protection efficiency was validated by MCNP simulations. Three approaches to calculate the dose rates were compared. The dose rates were estimated for the ORNL MIRD phantom located at the relevant positions (Tally F6 and *F8) and using the MCNPX mesh tally feature with the new ICRP Publication 116 flux-to-dose conversion factors. It was proven that the Approach II in which the absorbed dose rates due to neutrons for all organs are computed using the cell tally F6 and the photon dose calculation is performed by the *F8 energy deposition tally is the most valuable one.

Hypothetical superparamagnetic magnetometer in a pigeon's upper beak probably does not work.

We reanalysed the role of superparamagnetic magnetite clusters observed in a pigeon's upper beak to decide if this matter can be a component of some sort of pigeon magnetometer for Earth orientation. We investigated the mutual interaction of the magnetite clusters induced by the geomagnetic field. The force sensitivity of the hypothetical magnetometer in a pigeon's upper beak was estimated considering the previously presented threshold magnetic sensitivity of pigeons, measured in electrophysiological and behavioural investigations. The typical intercluster magnetic force seems to be 10(-19)N well above the threshold magnetic sensitivity. To strengthen our results, we measured the magnetic susceptibility of superparamagnetic magnetite using a vibrating sample magnetometer. Finally we performed theoretical kinematic analysis of the motion of magnetite clusters in cell plasma. The results indicate that magnetite clusters, constituted by superparamagnetic nanoparticles and observed in a pigeon's upper beak, may not be a component of a measuring system providing the magnetic map.