Abstract
This paper reports the results of the study of the efficiency of accumulation and distribution of mercury (Hg) in the fruiting bodies of fungus Suillus bovinus and the probable dietary intake of Hg and the potential health risk. Fungal fruiting bodies and soil materials were collected from 13 background areas in the northern part of Poland between 1993 and 2013. Mercury in the caps of fruiting bodies varied from 0.10 ± 0.06 to 0.79 ± 0.40 mg kg−1 dry biomass and in the stipes from 0.083 ± 0.028 to 0.51 ± 0.22 mg kg−1 dry biomass. The mean values of cap to stipe Hg content quotient varied from 1.3 ± 0.2 to 2.6 ± 0.6. The Hg content in the upper 0–10 cm layer of soil substrate varied from 0.015 ± 0.004 to 0.031 ± 0.019 mg kg−1 dry biomass. S. bovinus could be considered as an efficient accumulator of Hg, at least from low level polluted soils, and the values of Hg bioconcentration factor (BCF) varied from 6.4 ± 2.2 to 45 ± 20 for caps and from 3.8 ± 1.4 to 29 ± 11 for stipes. A conventional meal (300 g) portion of S. bovinus foraged from background areas provides Hg dose far below the provisionally tolerable weekly intake or recommended reference dose set for this element by authorities. An examination of published data on Hg in fruiting bodies of fungi genus Suillus showed low contamination of specimens foraged from background areas. Also reviewed are published data on Hg in fungi genus Suillus collected worldwide.
Highlights
Mercury along with other elements such as arsenic, lead, and cadmium are important to consider in terms of food chain contamination (McLaughlin et al 1999)
The mercury contents of the soil samples and fruiting bodies of the European Cow Bolete S. bovinus samples were all found to be less than 1.0 mg kg−1 db
To assess the potential of mushroom to take-up and sequester elements (Hg in this case) in fruiting body, the quotient of Hg in the mushroom fruiting bodies to the corresponding Hg in litter/soil layer of the substratum which is defined as bioconcentration factor (BCF) or transfer factor (TF) is readily used
Summary
Mercury along with other elements such as arsenic, lead, and cadmium are important to consider in terms of food chain contamination (McLaughlin et al 1999). The past two to three decades have witnessed increasing publications evaluating the Hg levels in foods and the environment at state and regional levels. The recent publication of the United Nations Environment Programme indicated that this concern is a global issue as these contaminations result more from anthropogenic emissions of Hg (UNEP 2013). Studies have reported longrange transportation of Hg at a global scale and deposition of airborne anthropogenic Hg at remote regions (Demers et al 2007). Marasmius dryophilus (Bull.) Murrill which depend on litter as source of food, in remote regions of the Minya Konka (Mt. Gongga) in the Eastern Tibetan Plateau—a site located very far from industrial sources of Hg emissions and other saprophytic species such as Agaricus arvensis Schaeff., Agaricus maleolens F.H. Møller (current name Agaricus bernardii Quél.), and Coprinus comatus (O.F. Müll.) Pers. Müll.) Pers. from contaminated urban grounds (Falandysz 2016, Falandysz et al 2014a, Svoboda and Kalač 2003)
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