What explains radioactivity?
Chernobyl. The nuclear disaster was the first cause that researchers found to explain the levels of radioactivity in wild boars in the region. But this alone would not take into account the severity of radiation in animals.
Nuclear weapons testing. Research published last year found that the largest amount of cesium-137 detected was released during the nuclear weapons tests that preceded the Chernobyl catastrophe. Specifically, up to 68% of the cesium present in the wild boars studied came from old nuclear weapons tests. During the Cold War, more than 400 tests were carried out on the surface, releasing radiation into the atmosphere.
Even if Chernobyl hadn’t happened, some samples would exceed the limit.
George Steinhauser, radioecologist from the Technical University of Vienna and co-author of the study
Radioactive mushroom consumption. Another discovery is that a species of mushroom, known as deer truffle, is also behind the radioactivity of wild boars. As cesium is slowly absorbed by the soil, it can take a long time for the element to reach local fungi, which are then consumed by wild boars.
This explains why ‘old’ cesium is disproportionately found in wild boars. Deer truffles, which can be found at depths of 20 to 40 centimeters, are only now absorbing the cesium released in Chernobyl. Cesium from old nuclear weapons tests, on the other hand, has already gotten there [nas trufas] some time ago.
George Steinhauser
