heavy metals bioaccumulation by edible saprophytic mushrooms

The aim of this study was to determine the concentration of heavy metals Fe, Zn, Cu, Ni, Pb i Cd in certain edible species of saprophytic fungi and the substrate on three area of sampling, and to assess the role of individual species as biological indicators of environmental pollution. In this study were used three species of wild edible mushrooms (Agaricus macroarpus Bohus, Clitocybe inversa (Scop. ex Fr.) Pat. and Macrolepiota procera (Scop. ex Fr.) Sing.,). Completely developed and mature fruiting bodies were collected at random selection in localities of Trakošćan, Jaska and Petrova gora. At the same time, the substrate soil samples were collected from the upper horizon (0-10). Determination of heavy metals in mushrooms and the substrate soil were carried out by X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry. The data obtained were analysed by means of the statistical program SAS V9.2. Significant differences were found in the concentrations of Fe, Zn, Cu, Ni, Pb and Cd between analysed species of mushrooms and localities of sampling (P < 0.05). The highest mean concentrations (mg*kg-1) of Zn (98.25), Cu (88.07), Ni (3.80), Pb (5.06) i Cd (4.12) in Agaricus macrocarpus were determined, while the highest contents of Fe determined in Macrolepiota procera (126.19 mg*kg-1). The average distribution rates of investigated heavy metals in anatomical parts of the fruiting body were significantly different. All mushrooms species were biological exclusors of Fe, Ni and Pb (BCF<1). On the other hand, bio-accumulation features were established in the investigated mushroom species for metals Cd (BCF>1). The consumption of investigated mushrooms poses no toxicological risk to human health due to low concentrations analysed metals.