Mercury in scarletina bolete mushroom (Neoboletus luridiformis): Intake, spatial distribution in the fruiting body, accumulation ability and health risk assessment

Blusher mushroom (Amanita rubescens Pers.): A Study of Mercury Content in Substrate and Mushroom Samples from Slovakia with Respect to Locality and Developmental Stages

The edible mushroom Amanita rubescens Pers., regularly collected and consumed in Slovakia, was assessed for health risk due to the mercury content in its fruiting body parts. For this purpose, 364 both from the soil/substrate and mushroom samples from 40 localities in Slovakia were evaluated. At the same time, 21 samples of 7 developmental stages of the fruiting body of A. rubescens were taken in the Žakýlske pleso locality. The total mercury content in the soil and mushroom samples was determined using an AMA-254 analyzer. The contamination factor (Cf) and index of geoaccumulation (Igeo) were used to detect the level of soil pollution by mercury. The ability of A. rubescens to accumulate mercury from the soil environment was evaluated using the bioconcentration factor (BCF), and the distribution of mercury in the mushroom body was evaluated using the translocation quotient (Qc/s). To determine the health risks resulting from mushroom consumption, the percentages of provisional tolerable weekly intake (%PTWI) and target hazard quotient (THQ) were used. The obtained results have confirmed serious content of mercury soil pollution, especially in former mining areas, where the situation is alarming from a health risk point of view. Consumption of A. rubescens was found to be risky, not only in former mining areas, but higher values of mercury were also detected in other parts of Slovakia. Evaluation of the developmental stages of the fruiting body of A. rubescens showed that the highest bioconcentration factor was determined at developmental stage no. VI for caps with a value of 2.47 mg kg-1 and developmental stage VII for stipes with a value of 1.65 mg kg-1 DW.

Metal Content in Caps and Stalks of Edible Mushrooms: Health Benefits and Risk Evaluation

Mushrooms are a good source of protein and phenolic compounds which provides health benefits for humans. The purpose of this study was to compare the content of eight metals, protein, and total phenolics (TPC) of 5 different species (Agaricus bisporus-white and brown mushrooms, Agaricus cupreobrunneus, Auricularia cornea, Hypsizgus tesselatus, and Pleurotus eryngii species-complex) of edible mushrooms available on the Romanian market. Agaricus bisporus and Agaricus cupreobrunneus were purchased and cultivated in Romania and the other species were cultivated in other countries (Turkey and China). The metal content determined by graphite atomic absorption spectrometry (GTAAS) varied in the order Cu > Pb > Ni > Fe > Cr > Mn > Co > Cd. Almost all the samples contained a greater quantity of metals in the stalk than in the cap. In addition, the levels of toxic metals were low. The protein content of analyzed samples ranged from 0.0926 to 0.2743%, the highest value being observed in Pleurotus eryngii species-complex mushroom. TPC of extracts increased over time but there was a variability in the concentration for each mushroom species (0.25-12.25 mg GAE/g). The investigated mushroom species possess no health risk and may be potential nutritional supplements for human diets due to their phenolic compounds, protein, and mineral content.

Mercury abatement in the environment: Insights from industrial emissions and fates in the environment

Mercury's neurotoxic effects have prompted the development of advanced control and remediation methods to meet stringent measures for industries with high-mercury feedstocks. Industries with significant Hg emissions, including artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM)-789.2 Mg year-1, coal combustion-564.1 Mg year-1, waste combustion-316.1 Mg year-1, cement production-224.5 Mg year-1, and non-ferrous metals smelting-204.1 Mg year-1, use oxidants and adsorbents capture Hg from waste streams. Oxidizing agents such as O3, Cl2, HCl, CaBr2, CaCl2, and NH4Cl oxidize Hg0 to Hg2+ for easier adsorption. To functionalize adsorbents, carbonaceous ones use S, SO2, and Na2S, metal-based adsorbents use dimercaprol, and polymer-based adsorbents are grafted with acrylonitrile and hydroxylamine hydrochloride. Adsorption capacities span 0.2-85.6 mg g-1 for carbonaceous, 0.5-14.8 mg g-1 for metal-based, and 168.1-1216 mg g-1 for polymer-based adsorbents. Assessing Hg contamination in soils and sediments uses bioindicators and stable isotopes. Remediation approaches include heat treatment, chemical stabilization and immobilization, and phytoremediation techniques when contamination exceeds thresholds. Achieving a substantially Hg-free ecosystem remains a formidable challenge, chiefly due to the ASGM industry, policy gaps, and Hg persistence. Nevertheless, improvements in adsorbent technologies hold potential.

Exploring Consumer Behavior and Preferences towards Edible Mushrooms in Slovakia

Edible mushrooms represent a food with high nutritional properties, and their consumption has a positive effect on the health of consumers. The aim of the paper is to identify the behavior and preferences of consumers in the consumption of edible mushrooms in Slovakia. The aim of the paper was achieved by conducting a consumer survey using the snowball sampling method on a sample of 1166 respondents in the Slovak Republic, of which 1032 respondents were consumers of edible mushrooms. Using statistical methods (the Chi-square test of independence, Kruskal-Wallis H test, and Friedman test, as well as categorical principal component analysis), differences in consumer behavior were examined in three identified segments created based on the amount of consumption of edible mushrooms. The results of the consumer study showed the existence of statistically significant differences between the defined segments in terms of frequency of consumption, evaluation of the preference of edible mushrooms in various meals, evaluation of important reasons for consumption, and determination of preference for individual species of mushrooms, as well as determination of preference for the place of consumption and the option of obtaining mushrooms for consumption. Moreover, four latent components determining the purchase of mushrooms applicable in all segments were defined. Supporting the consumption of edible mushrooms among Slovak consumers is possible by increasing consumer awareness through recommendations and published articles. The research paper provides a new insight into the behavior and preferences of consumers in mushroom consumption, divided into three segments, which can fill the scientific research gap. The results provide valuable information for scientific purposes, as well as for food companies and policy makers.

Occurrence, distribution, and associations of essential and non-essential elements in the medicinal and edible fungus "Fuling" from southern China

In Asian countries, the sclerotia of the wild-grown fungus Pachyma hoelen ("Fuling"), have been used as food and as medicinal products for centuries. To close the knowledge gaps about the value and possible environmental impacts, the occurrence, distribution, and associations of a range of elements (Ag, Al, As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Li, Mg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sb, Sr, Tl, U, V, and Zn) were studied in the inner (core) and outer (shell) morphological parts of the sclerotia from a diverse collection in Southern China. Quality of forest and agricultural soil in terms of a geogenic element source and composition can be considered as the main factor determining the occurrence of minerals in sclerotia through the host wood, largely of Pinus yunnanensis, while the anthropogenic impact (basically at remote rural areas of cultivation) in Southern China was negligible. In general, the mean concentration of each element in the outer part was significantly higher than that in the inner part (t-test, p < 0.01), except for Ag. The concentration of a given element in the outer part tended to have a positive relationship with that in the inner part, except for Cu, Se, Ag, and Zn. The elements in different morphological parts of sclerotia present different relation patterns. Compared to the outer part, there were stronger associations of elements in the inner part, suggesting homeostatic regulation of multiple elements in the inner parts. Further study on the sclerotia, infected wood substrate, and surrounding soil from a range of wild sample collections and intentional cultivation should provide a more complex view and allow assessment of the relationship between minerals and bioactive organic compounds produced by P. hoelen.

A method for the analysis of methylmercury and total Hg in fungal matrices

The aim of the study was to develop an efficient method for the determination of monomethyl-mercury (MeHg) and total mercury (THg) content in materials such as fungal sporocarps and sclerotia. Certified Reference Materials (CRMs) with the assigned values of MeHg and THg as well as the control materials (dried mushrooms) with known content of THg were evaluated for method validation. Recovery of MeHg from reference materials was at the following levels: from tuna fish at 87.0 ± 2.3% (THg at 101.9 ± 1.2%), from fish protein at 99.4 ± 1.3% (THg at 92.70 ± 0.41%), and from dogfish liver at 96.45 ± 0.73%. Recovery of THg from the fungal control material CS-M-5 was at 104.01 ± 0.60% (contribution of MeHg in THg content was at 6.2%), from CS-M-4 at 101.1 ± 2.0% (contribution at 3.2%), from CS-M-3 at 100.55 ± 0.67% (contribution at 0.6%), and from CS-M-2 at 101.5 ± 2.7% (contribution at 3.7%). The content of MeHg in randomly selected wild fungi and their morphological parts was in the range from 0.006 to 0.173 mg kg^-1 dry weight (dw). In the case of THg, the concentration values were in the range from 0.0108 to 10.27 mg kg^-1 dw. The MeHg content in the control materials with the assigned THg values was determined. Since the control materials play an important role in all elements of the quality assurance system of measurement results, they can be used to analyse MeHg as the first control material for fungi. KEY POINTS: • An extraction procedure for MeHg analysis in fungi was developed and optimized. • Recovery of MeHg from the certified reference non-fungal materials was > 87%. • Fungal control materials with assigned THg concentration can serve also for MeHg analysis.