Multivariate analysis of mineral constituents of edible Parasol Mushroom (Macrolepiota procera) and soils beneath fruiting bodies collected from Northern Poland

Caps and stipes of 141 fruiting bodies of Parasol Mushroom (Macrolepiota procera) and surface layer of soils collected from 11 spatially distant and background (pristine) areas in Northern Poland were analyzed for Ag, Al, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, P, Pb, Rb, Sr, and Zn by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy and cold vapor atomic absorption spectroscopy. In terms of bioconcentration and bioexclusion concept, K, Ag, Cu, Rb, and P were highly bioconcentrated in caps, and their bioconcentration factor values varied for the 11 sites between 120 and 500—67–420, 70–220, 10–170, and 45–100, respectively. Cd, Zn, Mg, and Na showed bioconcentration factors (BCFs) between 3.3 and 36, 3.7–15, 0.92–6.3, and 1.4–44 while Al, Ba, Ca, Co, Cr, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Sr were excluded (BCF < 1). The Parasol Mushroom is a species harvested in the wild, and its caps are of unique taste and can contain a spectrum of essential and hazardous mineral compounds accumulated at elevated concentrations, even if collected at the background (pristine) areas. These elevated mineral concentrations of the caps are due to the efficient bioconcentration potential of the species (K, Ag, Cu, Rb, P, Cd, Zn, Mg, and Na) and abundance in the soil substrates (Al, Ca, Fe, Mn). The estimated intake rates of Cd, Hg, and Pb contained in Parasol Mushroom’s caps show a cause for concern associated with these metals resulting from the consumption of between 300- and 500-g caps daily, on a frequent basis in the mushrooming season

Notes on selenium in mushrooms data determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) and hydride generation atomic absorption spectroscopy (HG-AAS) techniques

This manuscript discusses the credibility of the selenium in mushroom data generated using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) compared to that from hydride generation atomic absorption spectroscopy (HG-AAS). Selenium (Se) was determined by two methods: one was the widely applied and well validated hydride generation atomic absorption spectroscopy (HG-AAS) that was a reference method, while the validity of using the ICP-AES was tested. We found that Se determination in fungal and plant materials by ICP-AES gives inaccurate and imprecise results. Hence, reports of rather high concentrations of Se determined by ICP-AES for mushrooms that do not accumulate Se or that have not emerged at selenoferous areas should be treated with caution, because such data could be highly biased

As, Cd, Cr, Hg, Ni and Pb in Soil from Eastern Slope of Mt. Gongga, Eastern Tibet, China

Abstract: Concentrations of As, Cd, Cr, Hg, Ni and Pb were determined in soils from the eastern slope of Mt. Gongga at an altitude of 7,556 m above sea level. Mean concentrations of As, Hg and Pb in top soil were below the tolerance limit (the grade-1 standard) set in China for uncontaminated soils. Nevertheless, Pb was found in topsoil from the eastern slope of Mt. Gongga at mean concentrations of 30.38±7.32 mg/kg dw, which was close to the tolerance limit. At one site in surface layer of the Faber&apos;s fir mature forest, concentrations of Pb were all above the tolerance limit (35.7-43.1 mg/kg dw). Mean concentrations of Cd, Cr and Ni did exceed the tolerance limit (the grade-1 standard) set in China. Single-factor contaminant index data were calculated by taking into account the analytical information obtained from topsoil at each sampling site. Among heavy metals determined, the highest degree of topsoil pollution was found for Cd. The single-factor pollutant index values decreased in the order of P Cd &gt;P Cr &gt;P Ni &gt;P Pb &gt;P Hg &gt;P As . Evidently, topsoil of the eastern slope of Mt. Gongga accumulated elevated levels of Cd and Cr and Ni. An integrated assessment of topsoil quality for six heavy metals analyzed indicated that the values of index P N for all sites varied between 0.92 and 4.89 and all are considered as &apos;slight to pronounced impact&apos; by heavy metals