Accumulation of heavy metals in some edible mushrooms from Turkey

Four heavy metal (Hg, Pb, Cd, and Cu) contents bioaccumulated by six different species of edible mushrooms (Laccaria laccata, Agaricus bitorquis, Tricholoma terreum, Agaricus silvicolla, Hydnum repandum and Russula delica) of Turkish origin were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrometry. The natural levels of Hg (II), Pb (II), Cd (II), and Cu (II) were determined in concentrations of mg metal ion/kg dry, weight. The soils were fortified in situ with the four heavy inetals in concentrations of 0.35-11, 0.40-70, 0.21-8.45, and 0.55-32.5 ing metal ion/kg dry weight for Hg (II), Pb (II), Cd (II), and Cu (II), respectively. The highest metal levels were: 6.79 mg/kg Hg in Hydnum repandum, 6.87 mg/kg Pb in Russula delica, 16.8 mg/kg Cd in Agaricus silvicolla, and 66.4 mg/kg Cu in Tricholoma terreum on a dry-weight-basis. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.