Mercury Content in Three Edible Wild-Growing Mushroom Species from Different Environmentally Loaded Areas in Slovakia: An Ecological and Human Health Risk Assessment

Abstract

Three edible mushroom species (Imlera badia, Boletus subtomentosus, Xerocomellus chrysenteron) sampled in 60 different localities of Slovakia were evaluated to determine health risks (associated with mercury content) arising from their consumption. Total content of mercury in soil and mushroom samples was determined by an AMA-254 analyzer. Soil pollution by mercury was evaluated by contamination factor (Cf), pollution load index (PLI), and geoaccumulation index (Igeo). Bioaccumulation factor (BAF), translocation factor (Qc/s), provisional tolerably weekly intake (%PTWI), estimated daily intake (EDI), and target hazard quotient (THQ) were used to describe and compare uptake and transition abilities of mushrooms, and the health risk arising from mushroom consumption. Mercury content in soil significantly influences the content of mercury in mushroom fruiting body parts. Caps and stipes of Boletus subtomentosus were found to be the best mercury accumulator. According to the EDI, consumption of the evaluated mushroom species represents a serious threat for adults and children. The lowest values of THQ were found for Xerocomellus chysenteron.

Mercury Content in the Wild Edible Leccinum Mushrooms Growing in Slovakia: Environmental and Health Risk Assessment

“…Potential ecological risk factor of analyzed soil samples ranged from 35.2 to 90, which means that soils were low risk (Snina -Štefkovo), moderate risk (Kurima -Taraš, Žakýlske pleso), and high risk (Hliník nad Hronom, Mníšek nad Popradom, Čačín -Jelšovec). The composition and pollution of soils in Slovakia are largely affected by geochemical differences, wasteful exploitation of natural resources, several mining areas, and environmental loads (Demková et al, 2021). Soils in some studied regions are loaded by air pollution deposits (Kunca et al 2003).…”

Accumulation of Selected Metal Elements in Fruiting Bodies of Oyster Mushroom

“…The mineral content depends on the composition of the substrate on which the fungi grow. However, in addition of substances beneficial to health, fungi also absorb some undesirable elements from their surroundings, such as toxic mercury, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, vanadium or beryllium [ 17 , 18 ]. The concentration of these elements in fungi can be several times higher than in the surrounding soil, so it is not recommended in any case to collect fungi in the catchment area of harmful emissions, most often near power plants, aluminum factories or chemical or metallurgical factories [ 19 ].…”

Risk Assessment of the Wild Edible Leccinum Mushrooms Consumption According to the Total Mercury Content

“…Taking into account the average consumption of “Other vegetables including mushrooms” which was 0.18 kg FW per person per week in Slovakia in 2020 [ 29 ] the %PTWI was calculated as follows: where: is the measured content of Hg in the biological sample (mg kg −1 of fresh weight (FW) in mushrooms). The fresh weight of the mushrooms was calculated providing that the dry matter represented 10% of the mushroom fruiting body [ 20 , 30 ]. If the detected value was greater than 100%, the consumption of mushroom samples from the area would be potentially hazardous.…”

“…THQ considered numerous parameters, which can influence the health of consumers. THQ can be expressed as the ratio of toxic element exposure and the highest reference dose at which no adverse effects on human health are expected [ 30 ]. THQ was calculated as follows: where: is the frequency of exposure (365 days), is the exposure duration (70 years), is the average daily consumption of mushrooms, which was according to the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic [ 29 ] estimated to be 25.7 g/day, is the average Hg concentration in mushroom samples (mg kg −1 FW), and is the oral reference dose for mercury (0.0003 mg kg −1 day −1 ) [ 20 ].…”