Generalizations about effects of irradiation may be misleading if the dose and commodities are not specified. Irradiation could be used for inhibition of sprouting, disinfestation, destruction of parasites in meat, to delay maturation of fruit and for pasteurization and sterilization. In some applications it could replace chemical sprout inhibitors, fumigants and chemical preservatives; in other cases it may have unique advantages e.g. in eradication of non-spore-forming pathogens in dry or frozen foods. Toxicological and nutritional evaluation has repeatedly confirmed the safety of irradiated foods. Effects on nutritional quality are frequently comparable with heat treatment and sometimes more conservative, particularly if oxygen is excluded. While food irradiation could be an alternative to chemical preservatives, misinformation has led to uncertainties as to its future.

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The solvents were removed by vacuum distillation. The residual yellow solid was dissolved in 110 ml. of hot water, cooled by adding 100 g. of ice, and acidified with 30 ml. of concent,rated HOI. The white solid product was filtered, washed well with water, and dried to constant weight; yield 16.1 g. (88%•), imp. 318-320°, sealed tube (copper block, corrected). This material was suitable for nitration. For purification for analysis the product was dissolved in dilute ammonium hydroxide, treated with charcoal, and reprecipitated with acid. The melting point was unchanged.

Radioactive contamination of wild-growing mushrooms collected in the Northern Black Forest and neighbouring Rhine Valley area has been monitored since the Chernobyl reactor accident. Cs-134, CS-137, Ag-100m and the natural nuclide K-40 were determined by gamma-spectrometry. Pooled data from all species and all locations showed a decrease in the radio-caesium levels from 1986 to 1988, both in mean values and maximum values. Samples of the same species collected at the same location exhibited large differences, although mixed samples rather than individual mushrooms were measured. Accumulation of caesium was observed particularly in Laccaria amethystina, Xerocomus badius, Xerocomus chrysenteron, Cantharellus tubaeformis, Laccaria laccata, and Russula ochroleuca, with maximum values of 3600 (1986), 2000 (1987), and 1200 (1988) Bq/kg of radiocaesium. A large number of species, among them Calocybe gambosa and Coprinus comatus, showed very small accumulations or no caesium. An accumulation of silver was found in Macrolepiota rhacodes and Agaricus arvensis, which contained a maximum of 11 Bq/kg Ag-110m.