Radiation Safety of Agricultural Products in Areas with Increased Caesium-137 and Strontium-90 Contamination

This paper will review the conducted research on the radiation situation in the territories of the southern districts of the Kaluga Region and the south-western districts of the Bryansk Region affected by the Chernobyl disaster. The primary focus of the study is assessing the content of caesium-137 and strontium-90 in plant products, such as potatoes, carrots, and mushrooms, grown or harvested on private farms and in forests of these regions. The study includes analysis of soil and food samples using modern spectrometric methods and techniques that meet national standards. The results of measuring the specific activity of radionuclides are presented, cases of exceeding the standards are identified, and the types of products most vulnerable to the accumulation of radionuclides are determined. It is shown that the radiation situation in the studied territories remains challenging and thus necessitates strengthening of radiation control and developing protective measures. The research focuses on the importance of radiation safety of agricultural products for the health of the population, particularly children, as well as the ecosystems of the regions. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2026.