Selected elements in fly agaric Amanita muscaria

Area of Science:

• Mycology
• Environmental Science
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Fly agaric (Amanita muscaria) is a widely recognized mushroom species.
• Understanding the elemental composition of mushrooms is crucial for ecological and toxicological assessments.
• Geographical variations can influence the bioaccumulation of elements in fungi.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify the concentrations of 25 elements in fly agaric fruiting bodies.
• To investigate the distribution of these elements in caps versus stalks.
• To assess the impact of geographical location on elemental profiles.

Main Methods:

• Collection of fly agaric samples from three distinct sites in northern Poland.
• Determination of elemental concentrations using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES), Hydride Generation Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (HG-AAS), and Cold Vapor Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (CV-AAS).

Main Results:

• Potassium (K) and Magnesium (Mg) were the most abundant elements found in the caps.
• Concentrations of K, Zn, Ag, Ca, Cd, Cu, Hg, Mg, Rb, and Se were significantly higher in the caps compared to the stalks.
• While some elements showed spatial variation in the caps, others like Cu, K, Mg, Na, Se, and Zn did not vary significantly with collection site.

Conclusions:

• The elemental composition of fly agaric is influenced by both the mushroom part (cap vs. stalk) and the geographical origin.
• Potassium and magnesium are key macroelements in fly agaric caps.
• Further research can explore the implications of these elemental profiles for ecological roles and potential human exposure.