Agricultural Radiology is a Tool for Ensuring the Radiation Safety of Food

Introduction. Radioactive contamination of the biosphere is a significant problem facing modern humanity. The consequences of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident, the existing sources of ionizing radiation, and the radiation-biological technologies used in Russia necessitate monitoring the radiation safety of the country's population. Agricultural products are among the main types of consumer goods, and therefore monitoring the level of radionuclides in food raw materials and finished products is an important state task. Agricultural radiology is the main tool for ensuring the radiological safety of feed and food products. 

Purpose. To analyze the results of laboratory tests of agricultural products for radionuclides cesium-137  (¹³⁷Cs) and strontium-90 (⁹⁰Sr)  by the reference centers of the Federal Center for Animal Health (ARRIAH) for 2 years.

Materials and methods. The study subjects were veterinary surveillance specimens submitted for testing to the testing laboratories of the Federal Center for Animal Health (ARRIAH) between 2023 and 2024. The research methods included laboratory studies measuring radionuclide activity, which were conducted using spectrometry in accordance with current regulatory requirements. The parameters studied included Cs-137 and Sr-90.

Results. Establishing the geographic distribution of samples with elevated specific activity of cesium-137 (¹³⁷Cs) and strontium-90 (⁹⁰Sr) in Russia: Bryansk, Chelyabinsk, Pskov, Leningrad, and Moscow regions. No hypotheses regarding the migration path of ionizing radiation sources in these regions have been established. The detection of samples contaminated above the standard in agricultural products used for food and animal feed indicates radiation contamination of environmental objects in the sampling regions.

Conclusions. Over the analyzed period, a downward trend was observed in the number of samples with radionuclide concentrations above the regulatory limits. However, the very presence of such samples indicates the need for further monitoring of the radiation situation.

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