Selected elements in Brown Birch Scaber Stalk Leccinum scabrum

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Analytical Chemistry
• Mycology

Background:

• Edible mushrooms are important food sources and bioindicators.
• Understanding the mineral composition of mushrooms is crucial for nutritional and environmental assessments.
• Brown Birch Scaber Stalk (Leccinum scabrum) is a widely consumed mushroom species.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the concentration of 26 metallic elements and metalloids in the caps and stalks of Brown Birch Scaber Stalk.
• To compare the mineral content between mushroom caps and stalks.
• To investigate the influence of geographical location (lowland vs. mountain) on the mineral composition.

Main Methods:

• Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS)
• Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES)
• Hydride Generation Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (HG-AAS)
• Cold Vapor Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (CV-AAS)
• Analysis of Brown Birch Scaber Stalk from two lowland and one mountain site in Poland.

Main Results:

• Higher concentrations of Ag, Al, Cd, Cr, Cs, Cu, Fe, Hg, K, Mg, Mo, Pb, Rb, Se, V, and Zn were found in mushroom caps compared to stalks.
• Tl and Na showed higher concentrations in stalks than in caps.
• Mushrooms from the Sudety Mountains site had significantly higher concentrations of Al, Ba, Cs, Fe, Ga, Ni, Pb, Sr, and V compared to those from lowland sites.

Conclusions:

• Geological origin and soil substrate significantly impact the mineral composition of Brown Birch Scaber Stalk.
• The study provides essential baseline data on the mineral content of this mushroom species from unpolluted areas.
• Findings are valuable for both nutritional guidance and environmental monitoring.