Accumulation and distribution of 40K in the chaga mushroom.

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Citation abstract

This work is the first report on activity concentrations of 40 K in Inonotus obliquus sampled in a virgin forest of Siberia. The results have shown that the chaga conk is characterized by high activity concentrations of 40 K, averaging 1,641 Bq/kg dry weight (DW) and peaking at 3,502 Bq/kg DW. Activity concentrations of 40 K in chaga conks have been defined to increase from the near-trunk stratum to the crust of the conk with increased exposure to the solar radiation. Our measurements have revealed the samples to be mildly contaminated with 137 Cs. Intensive assimilation of 40 K by chaga conks has been shown as a normal and innate feature of the wild chaga mushroom.