Total mercury in wild-grown higher mushrooms and underlying soil from Wdzydze Landscape Park, Northern Poland

Abstract

Concentrations of mercury were determined in wild growing mushrooms (nine edible and 6 inedible species) and underlying soil (0–10 cm layer) substrate collected from Wdzydze Landscape Park in Northern Poland in 1995–1996. The analysis was performed using cold-vapour atomic absorption spectroscopy (CV–AAS) in 211 caps, 211 stalks and 211 soil samples. King Bolete ( Boletus edulis), Cloudy Clitocybe ( Lepista nebularis) and Orange Slime Court ( Cortinarius mucosus) accumulated great concentrations of mercury and bioconcentration factors (BCF) of mercury in these species were between 560±510 and 180±160 in caps and between 310±190 and 77±64 in stalks. All other species examined, also accumulated mercury, but to lesser extent, with BCF values ranging from 3.9±2.1 to 69±12 in caps, and 1.0±0.4 and 38±7 in stalks. Cap to stalk concentration quotients for mercury were between 1.2±1.1 and 4.4±2.8. Mercury concentrations in underlying soil substrate were low between 2.7±1.2 and 37±5 ng/g dry weight, for 14 species, and 78±53 (18–170) ng/g dry weight for soil from which Sulfur Tuft ( Hypoloma fasciculare) was collected. Among edible species, King Bolete showed a mean mercury concentration of up to 2600±2000 ng/g, dry weight, in caps and 1600±1200 ng/g in stalks. Mean mercury concentrations in other edible species were <400±200 in caps and <170±120 ng/g dry weight in stalks. Bare-toothed Brittle Gills ( Russula vesca) had the lowest concentration of 45±26 ng/g and 30±18 ng/g dry weight, in caps and stalks, respectively. A statistically significant relationship was noted between mercury content in caps of Sandy Knight Cap ( Tricholoma flavovirens; P<0.01), King Bolete ( P<0.05) and soil mercury content, while a negative relationship was observed for Bay Bolete ( Xerocomus badius; caps and stalks) and Sulfur Tuft ( H. fasciculare; 0.01< P<0.05) concentrations.