MYCOLab Ai Logo - gold and army green

Scandium, Yttrium, and Lanthanide Occurrence in Cantharellus cibarius and C. minor Mushrooms

Summary

This research examined the levels of rare earth elements in wild mushrooms from Poland and China. The study found that Chanterelle mushrooms from Poland contain very low, safe levels of these elements, while mushrooms from China’s Yunnan region had higher levels due to different soil composition. This research matters because: – It confirms the safety of consuming wild Chanterelle mushrooms from Poland – It demonstrates how mushrooms can reflect environmental conditions in different regions – It provides baseline data for monitoring environmental changes over time – It helps understand how mushrooms interact with soil minerals – It contributes to food safety knowledge regarding wild-foraged foods

Background

Rare earth elements (REE), including lanthanides, scandium, and yttrium, are increasingly used in electrical and electronic devices and other technologies. There is limited data on REE content in foods, including edible mushrooms, due to their trace levels and analytical challenges. Understanding baseline REE levels in wild mushrooms is important for assessing dietary exposure and potential health effects.

Objective

To characterize the concentrations and shale-normalized patterns of rare earth elements (REE), yttrium (Y) and scandium (Sc) in Cantharellus cibarius mushrooms from Poland and C. minor from Yunnan, China.

Results

The total REY plus Sc varied in C. cibarius from 10 to 593 µg kg−1 dry weight, while C. minor from Yunnan contained 2,072 µg kg−1 dry weight. Sc concentrations in most C. cibarius samples were below 1 µg kg−1 dw, with two sites showing 17 and 27 µg kg−1 dw, while C. minor contained 66 µg kg−1 dw. The median Y content was 22 µg kg−1 dw for C. cibarius and 200 µg kg−1 dw for C. minor.

Conclusion

The median REE concentrations in C. cibarius from Poland were negligible, suggesting no risk to consumers of this popular wild mushroom. C. minor from Yunnan showed higher REE concentrations than C. cibarius, reflecting regional differences in soil bedrock composition. The difference in REE concentrations between mushrooms from Poland and Yunnan appears to reflect regional variations in soil bedrock composition.
  • Published in:Environmental Science and Pollution Research International,
  • Study Type:Environmental Analysis,
  • Source: 10.1007/s11356-023-25210-6
Scroll to Top