Abstract
In the present work, we focused on two aspects of mercury (Hg) bioconcentration in the above-ground parts of Neoboletus luridiformis. In the first part, we monitored the bioconcentration potential of individual anatomical parts of a particular fruiting body and evaluated the obtained data by the spline interpolation method. In the second part, we focused on assessing the mercury content in 378 samples of N. luridiformis and associated samples of substrates from 38 localities with different levels of Hg content in Slovakia. From the obtained data of Hg content in samples of substrate and fungi, we evaluated ecological indicators (geoaccumulation index – Igeo, contamination factor – Cf a potential ecological risk – PER), bioconcentration indicators (bioconcentration factor – BCF; cap/stipe quotient – Qc/s) and health indicators (percentage of provisional tolerable weekly intake – %PTWI a target hazard quotient – THQ). Based on the Hg distribution results, the highest Hg content was found in the tubes & pores (3.86 mg/kg DW), followed by the flesh of cap (1.82 mg/kg DW). The lowest Hg content was in the stipe (1.23 mg/kg DW). The results of the BCF values indicate that the studied species can be included in the category of mercury accumulators. The results of the ecological indices representing the state of soil pollution pointed out that two localities (Malachov and Nižná Slaná) stood apart from all monitored localities and showed a state of an extremely disturbed environment. This fact was also reflected in the values of Hg content in the fruiting bodies of the studied mushroom species. In the case of the consumption of mushrooms from these localities, it can be stated that long-term and regular consumption could have a negative non-carcinogenic effect on the health of consumers. It was confirmed by the %PTWI (Malachov: 57.8%; Nižná Slaná: 53.2%) and THQ (Malachov: 1.11 Nižná Slaná: 1.02). The locality Čačín-Jelšovec is interesting from the bioconcentration characteristics point of view, where the level of environmental pollution was the lowest (Hg content in the soil was below the background value) compared to other localities, however, the THQ value was the highest (1.29).
Highlights
In the present work, we focused on two aspects of mercury (Hg) bioconcentration in the above-ground parts of Neoboletus luridiformis
Since the studied species N. luridiformis is conditionally edible, we identified the potential risk arising from its long-term regular consumption
Mercury distribution in N. luridiformis fruiting body It is generally known that some higher plants and mushrooms absorb large amounts of contaminants into the aboveground parts, fungi through mycelium during their development (Ali et al, 2013; Gadd, 2007)
Summary
We focused on two aspects of mercury (Hg) bioconcentration in the above-ground parts of Neoboletus luridiformis. The bioavailability and dynamics of the element uptake are influenced by many factors, such as environmental (pH of the substrate, the content and mobility of elements in the substrate and the organic matter con tent) and intrinsic (taxon, developmental stage, mycelium age, etc.) (Falandysz et al, 2020; Kokkoris et al, 2019; Urminskaet al., 2013, Urminskaet al., 2010, Urminska et al, 2004) This uptake can be considered problematic from a consumer (humans and animals) point of view, in areas that are contaminated by risk elements originating from anthropogenic or natural sources, due to toxic elements accumulated in fruiting bodies, as evidenced by several studies (Arvay et al, 2017, 2014; Falandysz et al, 2017; Kalac, 2016; Slavik et al, 2016; Zahorcovaet al., 2016). We still find these discrepancies in the literature (Urban and Klofac, 2015)
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