ANALYSIS OF RADIOLOGICAL CONTROL RESULTS OF SOILS AND AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS IN THE RIVNE REGION

Abstract

 This study presents the results of a comprehensive analysis of longterm radiological monitoring of soils and agricultural products in the Rivne region for 2010–2022, one of the most radiation-vulnerable areas of Ukrainian Polissia. The research is based on official laboratory protocols covering major food categories, including milk, potatoes, vegetables, fresh and dried wild mushrooms, berries, and other locally produced products. The dynamics of Cs137 and Sr90 content were assessed, spatial features of contamination were identified, and key environmental factors influencing the long-term migration of radionuclides within the “soil – plant – animal – human” system were determined. The study confirms that the combination of acidic sod-podzolic soils, high organic matter content, and extensive forest cover creates favourable conditions for prolonged bioavailability of radiocaesium, which actively accumulates in forest ecosystems and enters food chains. It was established that forest products remain the primary source of internal exposure for the local population: in different years, 25–54% of samples of fresh mushrooms and berries exceeded permissible levels, while for dried mushrooms this share reached 79–97%, which is consistent with international radioecological observations. Milk from private households in the northern districts of the region showed exceedance rates of 14–18%, indicating the influence of locally contaminated fodder and the spatial heterogeneity of soil contamination. Potatoes and most vegetable crops demonstrated comparatively low contamination levels (4–10%), although local peaks were recorded in 2015 and 2019–2021, reflecting the patchy character of radionuclide distribution in Polissia soils. The findings demonstrate that despite the general trend toward gradual reduction of radionuclide loads in agroecosystems, certain product groups— especially forest mushrooms and milk from household farms—continue to pose a potential radiological risk to residents. Therefore, the study substantiates the necessity of expanding targeted monitoring programmes, improving radiological control methods, restoring systematic state oversight, and implementing agroecological measures aimed at reducing the transfer of radionuclides into food chains. The results may be used by governmental authorities, research institutions, and local communities of Polissia to optimise radiation-protection strategies and adjust regional food-safety programmes.