Abstract: In order to understand the distribution levels and changing trends of radionuclides in foods commonly eaten by residents around a decommissioned uranium mine in Hunan Province, radionuclides in four categories of foods (rice, tea, meat, vegetables) commonly eaten by residents were analyzed from 2019 to 2023. Radionuclides were analyzed and the level of annual accumulated effective dose to residents caused by radionuclides in food was estimated. Gamma energy spectroscopy is used to analyze natural radionuclides (²³⁸U, ²³²Th, ²²⁶Ra, ⁴⁰K) and artificial radionuclides (¹³⁷Cs) in food. The contents of radionuclides in food are all within the standard range of the "Standard for Concentration Limit of Radioactive Substances in Food" (GB 14880—1994). The annual accumulated effective dose due to ingestion by residents around uranium mines is 172.7 μSv. The levels of radionuclides in the four types of food for residents around decommissioned uranium mines and the resulting annual accumulated effective doses for residents are all at natural background levels; residents around uranium mines will not get any harm if they eat these foods.

Key words: food, uranium mine, radionuclide