Radioactivity Survey of “Health Foods”(Supplements) Marketed in Japan

Concentrations of 134Cs, 137Cs and 40K in 73 supplements marketed in Japan were measured by gamma-ray spectrometry. In all supplements, 134Cs was not detected. On the other hand, 137Cs was detected in 9 supplements, and the concentrations of 137Cs in them were in the range of 2.3-190 Bq/kg. There was a tendency that concentrations of 137Cs in supplements made from materials accumulating 137Cs, such as mushrooms and blueberries, were high. Furthermore, 40K was detected in 56 supplements at levels of 17.6-11600Bq/kg. The committed effective dose of 137Cs in adults by annually taking supplements was estimated to be about 2.9μSv.