Levels of eight trace elements in edible mushrooms from a rural area

Abstract

Eight trace elements were determined using ICP–MS in 78 fruiting body samples of 22 edible mushroom species. The mushrooms were collected from four sites in a rural area, unpolluted by human activity. Median values (dry matter) were as follows: Arsenic (As) 1.45 mg kg^–1, barium (Ba) 1.41 mg kg^–1, cobalt (Co) 0.28 mg kg^–1, copper (Cu) 47.0 mg kg^–1, rubidium (Rb) 130 mg kg^–1, silver (Ag) 2.95 mg kg^–1, thallium (Tl) 0.02 mg kg^–1 and vanadium (V) 0.25 mg kg^–1. Higher trace element accumulation was observed in samples of Macrolepiota procera, Macrolepiota rhacodes, Lycoperdon perlatum, Lycoperdon gigantea and Xerocomus chrysenteron for As and Cu, and in samples of Cantharellus cibarius and of genera Boletus and Suillus for Rb.

Keywords:

• Edible mushrooms
• trace elements
• arsenic
• heavy metals
• barium
• cobalt
• copper
• rubidium
• silver
• thallium
• vanadium

Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge financial support of the projects 525/03/D067 of the Grant Agency of the Czech Republic and MSM 6007665806 of the Ministry of Education of the Czech Republic, and language correction of the manuscript by Mr. Chris Ash.