Arsenic Compounds in Terrestrial Organisms I: Collybia maculata, Collybia butyracea and Amanita muscaria from Arsenic Smelter Sites in Austria

Abstract

Three mushroom species from two old arsenic smelter sites in Austria were analyzed for arsenic compounds. The total arsenic concentrations were determined by ICP–MS. Collybia maculata contained 30.0 mg, Collybia butyracea 10.9 mg and Amanita muscaria 21.9 mg As kg−1 dry mass. The arsenic compounds extracted with methanol/water (9:1) from the dried mushroom powders were separated by HPLC on anion-exchange and reversed-phase columns and detected by ICP-MS using a hydraulic high-pressure nebulizer. In Collybia maculata almost all arsenic is present as arsenobetaine. Collybia butyracea contained mainly arsenobetaine (8.8 mg As kg−1 dry mass) and dimethylarsinic acid (1.9 mg As kg−1). Amanita muscaria contained arsenobetaine (15.1 mg As kg−1), traces of arsenite, dimethylarsinic acid and arsenate, and surprisingly arsenocholine (2.6 mg As kg−1) and a tetramethylarsonium salt (0.8 mg As kg−1). © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.