Selected elements of Poison Pax Paxillus involutus

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Mycology
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• The Poison Pax mushroom (Amanita virosa) is a toxic species with potential for bioaccumulation of environmental elements.
• Understanding the distribution of metallic elements in edible or toxic fungi is crucial for ecological and toxicological assessments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify concentrations of 26 metallic elements in Poison Pax fruiting bodies.
• To compare element levels between mushroom caps and stalks.
• To investigate geographical variations in element concentrations across different sites in Poland.

Main Methods:

• Elemental analysis using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES), Hydride Generation Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (HG-AAS), and Cold Vapor Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (CV-AAS).
• Specimens were collected from three distinct geographical locations in Poland.
• Statistical analysis, including Mann-Whitney U-test, was employed to compare element concentrations.

Main Results:

• Most analyzed elements (Ag, Co, Cr, Cs, Mn, Mo, K, Pb, Rb, Sb, Se, V, Tl) showed similar concentrations in both caps and stalks at the Lezno site.
• Higher concentrations (approximately two-fold) of Cd, Cu, Hg, Mg, and Zn were found in caps compared to stalks.
• Significant geographical variations were observed, with higher Cs, Cd, Ni, and Rb concentrations in specimens from the Kłodzka Hollow compared to a lowland site.

Conclusions:

• The study establishes baseline levels for metallic elements in Poison Pax, differentiating between caps and stalks.
• Geographical location significantly influences the bioaccumulation of certain metallic elements in Poison Pax.
• These findings are vital for environmental monitoring and risk assessment related to metallic contaminants in fungi.