Presented are results of a study on accumulation and distribution of ²¹⁰Po and ²¹⁰Pb in the fruitbodies of parasol mushroom (Macrolepiota procera) and risk to human consumer due to exposure from highly radiotoxic decay particles emitted by both radionuclides. Mushrooms were collected from 16 forested places in central and northern regions of Poland. Activity concentrations of ²¹⁰Po and ²¹⁰Pb were determined after radiochemical separation of nuclides and subsequent measurement using validated method and alpha spectrometer. Results showed on spatially heterogeneous distribution of the ²¹⁰Po and ²¹⁰Po activity concentrations in M. procera and two interpolation maps were prepared. Activity concentrations of nuclides in dried caps of M. procera were in the range from 3.38 ± 0.41 to 16.70 ± 0.33 Bq∙²¹⁰Po ∙kg⁻¹ and from 5.11 ± 0.21 to 13.42 ± 0.30 Bq∙²¹⁰Pb ∙kg⁻¹. Consumption of M. procera foraged in central and northern Poland should not contribute significantly to the annual effective radiation doses from ²¹⁰Po and ²¹⁰Pb due to amount of both nuclides accumulated by fungus in caps.

The results of polonium (²¹⁰Po) and lead (²¹⁰Pb) determination in different environmental soil samples collected in the vicinity of the phosphogypsum stack in Wiślinka (northern Poland) are presented and discussed in this paper. The ²¹⁰Po and ²¹⁰Pb concentrations in soil samples from the phosphogypsum stack recorded in this study are significantly higher only in areas that are close to the heap. The relationship between atmospheric deposition and elevated analyzed radionuclides concentrations in top soil layers, especially in the vicinity of the phosphogypsum stack, was showed in this study. ²¹⁰Po and ²¹⁰Pb radionuclides were detected in concentrations which could have harmful effects on human health or the environment. The considerably high concentrations of ²¹⁰Po and ²¹⁰Pb in soil samples collected from the vicinity of the phosphogypsum stack obtained in this study can lead to the conclusion that the presently undertaken recultivation process is successful and the 300 m² protection zone around the phosphogypsum stack seems to be able to offset the negative influence of the phosphogypsum stack on the surrounding environment.