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Bio-concentration Potential and Associations of Heavy Metals in Amanita muscaria (L.) Lam. from Northern Regions of Poland

Summary

This research examined how fly agaric mushrooms (Amanita muscaria) absorb and concentrate different metals from forest soils in Poland. The study revealed that these mushrooms selectively accumulate certain metals like potassium, magnesium, cadmium, copper, mercury, rubidium, and zinc, while excluding others. This selective absorption process helps cycle these elements through forest ecosystems. Impacts on everyday life: – Helps understand how mushrooms can be used to monitor environmental pollution – Provides insight into forest ecosystem metal cycling and soil health – Identifies which mushroom species might be useful for environmental cleanup – Informs about potential metal exposure risks from wild mushroom consumption – Demonstrates nature’s sophisticated mechanisms for managing mineral nutrients

Background

Amanita muscaria (fly agaric) is a spectacular and well recognizable ectomycorrhizal mushroom native to conifer and deciduous forests of the temperate and boreal zones of the northern hemisphere. While known to be psychoactive and traditionally considered inedible, it is abundant in forests and useful for research on heavy metal bioaccumulation. Little is known about its bio-concentration potential for heavy metals across different soil types and geochemical variations.

Objective

The aim was to assess the bioconcentration and bio-indication potential of Amanita muscaria fruiting bodies for metallic elements Ag, Al, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Hg, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Rb, Sr, and Zn. The study examined samples from six background forest locations in northern Poland not directly impacted by heavy metal emissions.

Results

A. muscaria showed species-specific affinities for certain elements, resulting in their bioconcentration in mycelium and fruiting bodies. The mushroom efficiently bioconcentrated K, Mg, Cd, Cu, Hg, Rb, and Zn while generally excluding Al, Ba, Ca, Fe, Mn and Sr. Most elements showed signs of homeostatic accumulation independent of soil levels, except Cd which accumulated proportionally to soil concentration. BCF values were typically higher for the extractable vs total soil metal fractions.

Conclusion

Amanita muscaria demonstrates selective bioconcentration of certain metallic elements, particularly K, Mg, Cd, Cu, Hg, Rb, and Zn, while maintaining homeostatic control over most element concentrations in its fruiting bodies. This species contributes to the natural cycling of these metals in forest ecosystems. The accumulation patterns appear to be species-specific rather than solely dependent on soil metal concentrations.
  • Published in:Environmental Science and Pollution Research International,
  • Study Type:Environmental Research Study,
  • Source: 10.1007/s11356-018-2603-0
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