Radiocaesium in Honey from Košice and Prešov Regions in Eastern Slovakia

Abstract

The activity of radiocaesium was measured in 50 samples of blossom and honeydew honey obtained in the years 2017 and 2018 from beekeepers from various localities of Košice and Prešov regions, eastern Slovakia. The measurements were carried out by gamma spectrometry in Marinelli-type vessels of volume 450 ml without any previous processing of samples. The activity of radiocaesium in honey samples were low, below the detection level of 0.2 Bq.kg−1 in the majority of samples, and was near the levels measured before the Chernobyl disaster. Higher values were detected in honeydew honey compared to the blossom honey. Consumption of honey from the regions presents no risk of exposure to 137Cs.

Keywords

• blossom honey
• honeydew honey
• radiocaesium
• slovakia