Levels of some trace elements in edible fungi

Abstract

A number of common edible fungi were analysed for their contents of Pb, Cd, Cr, Ni, Co, Zn, Cu, Mn and Se. The results indicate that the Cd level in the speciesRozites caperata can be as high as several mg/kg fresh weight. InLycoperdon perlatum andMacrolepiota procera the Pb level was found to be up to 2.5 mg/kg. The Ni level was at or below 0.1 mg/kg in all species, with the exception ofAlbatrellus ovinus, which had a mean concentration of 0.72 mg/kg. The level of Cr was highest inM. procera with a mean of 0.091 mg/kg. In a single sample of the speciesAgaricus augustus, the concentration of Co was found to be exceptionally high at 0.28 mg/kg. Zn and Cu levels were highest inL. perlatum andM. procera. Mn levels were fairly similar in the different species. The results of several surveys show that there can be large differences in the concentrations of the same metal (e.g. Pb) in the same species. The Se level was found to be very high in the speciesBoletus edulis, as has been shown by others. In the other species analysed the level of Se was low.