Radionuclides in plants bearing fruit: an overview

Edible cultivated fruits represent an important component of the total diet of the average EU citizen and have a high economic value. In addition, wild berries from natural or semi-natural environments are important items of the diet for certain population groups. The behaviour of radionuclides in plants bearing fruit is a multifaceted phenomenon. Deposition, interception, retention of fruit trees depend on orchard density, plant shape and plant phenological stage. Leaf to fruit translocation also depends on the plant species, while root uptake is most affected by the type of soil both in agricultural and in seminatural environments. The distribution of radionuclides in the different parts of the plant and remobilization from storage organs should not be disregarded, as well as the agricultural management that can affect the behaviour of radionuclides in the fruit plant system. The time lag between fruit production and consumption and the domestic or industrial processing should be given adequate attention for assessment of ingestion doses. This overview identifies some of the variables affecting fruit contamination and summarizes the available literature. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.