Evaluation of 137Cs activity in plant drugs and in some phytoderivatives from Chernobyl accident up to present (1986-1994).

The accident to the nuclear power plant of Chernobyl (in April 1986) caused a radioactive contamination in large areas of the majority of European countries. During the first transient time the fall-out phenomenon was the most important method of contamination, particularly from 131I whose relative isotopic abundance with respect to other released radionuclides was very high. Thereafter, 137Cs, owing to its long half-time and its large presence in environmental matrixes and so in the food chain, became the element on which the attention was to be focused. Plant drugs and their derivatives are, at present, of very large alimentary consumption among people. This can cause some problems to human health, so the authors have studied (from 1986 to 1994) the activity of 137Cs in a large number of drugs (about 5000) and in some industrial and home-made officinal products. Some suggestions on the Cs+,K+ ions competition in soil can also be derived.