Dietary intakes of radioactive cesium for Ukrainians

Daily intakes of 134Cs and 137Cs in Ukrainians were estimated in relation to the health effects on habitants after the Chernobyl accident. Two hundred and sixty-eight diet samples were collected from 25 oblasts (regions) using a duplicate portion method. For Ukrainians, the range and median daily intakes of 137Cs were 0.53–571 and 8.8 Bq per person, respectively. Intakes of 134Cs were also detected in highly 137Cs contaminated areas. Daily intakes of 134Cs were in the range of not detected to 3.6 Bq per person. Using the highest radiocesium intakes, annual effective doses for 134Cs and 137Cs were estimated to be 2.5·10−2 and 2.7 mSv, respectively.