THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN RISK ELEMENTS CONTAMINATION OF WILD EDIBLE MUSHROOMS (BOLETUS RETICULATUS SCHAEFF.) AND UNDERLYING SOIL SUBSTRATE

Abstract

Wild growing mushrooms have been a popular delicacy in many countries. Some species, especially from genus Boletus accumulate high levels of risk elements. Boletus reticulatus is one of the favorite and most consumed mushrooms in Slovak republic. Fruiting bodies of B. reticulatus (48 samples) and forest underlying soil substrates (48 samples) were collected and analyzed for Cd, Pb and Hg contents in pine stands of 8 different locations in eastern and central Slovak republic. ICP-OES (Optical emission spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma) analysis revealed the presence of 22 macro- and micro elements in mushroom and soil samples, of which we evaluated cadmium and lead in this research. Mercury was determined by Advanced Mercury Analyzer (AMA-254). Subject to mushroom samples, caps and stems were analyzed separately. In mushroom stems, pursuant to the supreme average value, highest amount of Cd was 2.63 mg.kg-1 DW, Pb: 6.04 mg.kg-1 DW and Hg 0.72 mg.kg-1 DW. In mushroom caps the highest average concentration was for Cd: 6.45 mg.kg-1 DW, for Pb: 3.73 mg.kg-1 DW and for Hg: 1.39 mg.kg-1 DW. Comparing the results with the limits of the European Union (EU) (Cd: 0.50 mg.kg-1 DW, Pb: 1.00 mg.kg-1 DW and Hg: 0.75 mg.kg-1 DW) for edible mushrooms, 50% (Pb), 40% (Hg) and 100% (Cd) of mushroom caps samples exceeded the limits. In case of mushroom stems, 75% (Cd) and 38% (Pb) of the samples exceeded the EU limits, while regard to Hg none of the mushroom stem samples exceeded the limit. The results showed that the values of the studied elements in soil underlying substrate increased in the order: Hg (ND-0.14 mg.kg-1 DW) < Cd (2.09-33.5 mg.kg-1 DW) < Pb (12.5-57.5 mg.kg-1 DW). Based on this, it can be stated that the monitored areas of 8 locations in Slovak republic represent an increased risk of selected elements into the above ground parts of mushrooms and as such pose a risk to human health.