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Toxic Elements and Bio-metals in Cantharellus Mushrooms from Poland and China

Summary

This research examined the mineral content of wild mushrooms collected from Poland and China, specifically looking at various trace elements and heavy metals. The study helps us understand how mushrooms absorb minerals from their environment and what this means for food safety. Impacts on everyday life: – Helps ensure safety of wild-foraged mushrooms as food – Provides insight into environmental pollution monitoring through mushroom analysis – Contributes to understanding nutritional value of wild mushrooms – Aids in identifying safer foraging locations based on soil composition – Helps inform dietary guidelines for mushroom consumption

Background

Wild-growing mushrooms are valued ingredients of food or special dishes in many cultures worldwide. Documented data indicates intake can exceed 20 kg fresh product per capita annually in some regions like Yunnan province, China. While mushrooms are important organic food items, knowledge gaps exist regarding their mineral constituent composition, fate during culinary processing, and accessibility.

Objective

This study aimed to update information on essential and hazardous metallic elements accumulated in Cantharellus mushrooms foraged in Poland and China as determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy with a dynamic reaction cell (ICP-DRC-MS). The research sought to explain results based on baseline content of geogenic metallic elements and metalloids in soils from background areas in Yunnan as well as geogenic and anthropogenic sources in Poland.

Results

The study revealed significant differences in mineral composition between mushrooms from Poland and China, likely due to soil geochemistry. Mushrooms from Yunnan’s polymetallic soils showed higher levels of As, Ba, Cr, Li, Pb, Sr, U and V but lower levels of Mn and Rb compared to Polish samples. Elements like Cu and Zn showed evidence of physiological regulation. Cobalt, nickel and thallium were found at similar levels in C. cibarius from both regions. C. tubaeformis differed from C. cibarius by having lower levels of correlated Co, Ni and Zn.

Conclusion

The research filled important knowledge gaps regarding mineral constituents in Cantharellus mushrooms from Poland and Yunnan, China, providing first-time data on several elements. Results suggest strong influence of collection site on element occurrence, with higher values of certain elements in mushrooms from Yunnan’s polymetallic soils but lower values of others compared to Polish samples. The differences appear largely due to local soil geochemistry at collection sites.
  • Published in:Environmental Science and Pollution Research International,
  • Study Type:Analytical Research Study,
  • Source: 10.1007/s11356-017-8554-z
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