The toxicity of predatory fish and mushrooms still exceeds the EU recommendations in Western Finland. The fish and mushrooms tested in the southwestern town of Vammala still exhibit elevated levels of the radioactivve isotope caesium-137 and mercury, even 20 years after the Chernobyl nuclear accident.
In the view of the Finnish Food and Safety Authority (Evira), the Vammala results reflect the situation across the southern and western regions of Finland.
According to Evira, the results confirm the 2004 recommendation for consumption of predatory fish, which is only once or twice per month. The careful pre-processing of mushrooms is also still necessary. The caesium levels in mushrooms can be lowered by up to 70-80% by soaking or boiling.
In the study, jointly conducted by Evira and the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK), samples of perch and pike and 14 different mushroom varieties were examined.
The mercury content of fish exceeded the highest permissible level in eight of the 31 tested lakes.
Based on the severity of the caesium fallout from Chernobyl, the Finnish territory has been divided into five categories. The Vammala area belongs to category four, the second most polluted of them.
