<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>In this study we examined the dried fruiting bodies of <italic>Morchella esculenta</italic>, collected in the area of the coal and biomass based thermal power plant in Vojany from the nearby Bahoň marsh, in the Slovak Republic. The area is characterized by a high environmental burden, especially because of air pollutant emissions from the power plant operation. Twenty-three (23) chemical elements were found in the dried fruiting bodies after microwave-assisted sample preparation using an Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrophotometer ICP-MS AGILENT 7500c system. The mercury content was determined employing a special AMA 254 apparatus intended for the determination of Hg directly in dry powdered fruiting bodies without microwave digestion. The content of toxic elements expressed in mg.kg<sup>−1</sup> DW (dry weight) were as follows: Hg 0.048—0.052 (RSD—Relative Standard Deviation = 4.80 %); Cd 4.543—6.169 (RSD = 3.35 %); Pb 0.261—0.291 (RSD = 2.67 %); As 0.455—0.469 (RSD = 5.79 %); Cr 1.585—1.616 (RSD = 2.33 %); and Ni 8.166—9.276 (RSD = 3.03 %). The contents of cadmium, nickel and mercury exceeded the hygiene limits, while the contents of arsenic and lead approached the hygiene limits. Due to the high levels of toxic elements, the fruiting bodies collected in the location are not suitable for culinary purposes. The mushroom <italic>Morchella esculenta</italic> acts as an accumulator of toxic elements from the environment in which it grows and can be considered as an indicator of environmental pollution.</p></abstract>

In this study we examined the dried fruiting bodies of Morchella esculenta, collected in the area of the coal and biomass based thermal power plant in Vojany from the nearby Bahoň marsh, in the Slovak Republic. The area is characterized by a high environmental burden, especially because of air pollutant emissions from the power plant operation. Twenty-three (23) chemical elements were found in the dried fruiting bodies after microwave-assisted sample preparation using an Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrophotometer ICP-MS AGILENT 7500c system. The mercury content was determined employing a special AMA 254 apparatus intended for the determination of Hg directly in dry powdered fruiting bodies without microwave digestion. The content of toxic elements expressed in mg.kg−1 DW (dry weight) were as follows: Hg 0.048—0.052 (RSD—Relative Standard Deviation = 4.80 %); Cd 4.543—6.169 (RSD = 3.35 %); Pb 0.261—0.291 (RSD = 2.67 %); As 0.455—0.469 (RSD = 5.79 %); Cr 1.585—1.616 (RSD = 2.33 %); and Ni 8.166—9.276 (RSD = 3.03 %). The contents of cadmium, nickel and mercury exceeded the hygiene limits, while the contents of arsenic and lead approached the hygiene limits. Due to the high levels of toxic elements, the fruiting bodies collected in the location are not suitable for culinary purposes. The mushroom Morchella esculenta acts as an accumulator of toxic elements from the environment in which it grows and can be considered as an indicator of environmental pollution.

Edible Spruce (<italic>Morchella esculenta</italic>), Accumulator of Toxic Elements in the Environment

Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Biophysics, Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry

University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice

Department of Food Hygiene and Technology, Institute of Milk Hygiene and Technology

Folia Veterinaria

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Edible Spruce (), Accumulator of Toxic Elements in the Environment

In this study we examined the dried fruiting bodies of Morchella esculenta, collected in the area of the coal and biomass based thermal power plant in Vojany...

Edible Spruce (Morchella esculenta), Accumulator of Toxic Elements in the Environment

Published Online: Jul 09, 2019

Page range: 55 - 59

Received: Mar 08, 2019

Accepted: Jun 14, 2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/fv-2019-0019

Keywords
AMA 254, chemical elements, edible spruce, ICP-MS,

© 2019 Strapáč I. et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Edible Spruce (Morchella esculenta), Accumulator of Toxic Elements in the Environment

Published Online: Jul 09, 2019

Page range: 55 - 59

Received: Mar 08, 2019

Accepted: Jun 14, 2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/fv-2019-0019

KeywordsAMA 254, chemical elements, edible spruce, ICP-MS,

© 2019 Strapáč I. et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Keywords
AMA 254, chemical elements, edible spruce, ICP-MS,