Fungi can effectively accumulate various metallic elements, metalloids and non-metals in fruiting bodies. This study provides information on the accumulation of Ag, As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cs, Cu, Cr, Li, Mn, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sr, V, Tl, U and Zn in the edible mushroom Sarcodon imbricatus (L.) P. Karst. using the technique of inductively coupled plasma - mass spectrometry with a dynamic reaction cell mode. Mushrooms were foraged from four regions in Poland. Baseline concentrations of minerals, expressed in mg kg-1 dry biomass (db), were in the composite samples of caps in the range: for Ag (0.27-0.29), As (1.0-1.9), Ba (0.31-0.45), Cd (4.5-6.3), Co (0.23-1.9), Cu (28-35), Cr (0.19-0.29), Cs (20-38), Li (0.013-0.020), Mn (5.9-8.8), Ni (0.81-1.4), Pb (0.94-1.6), Rb (490-700), Sr (0.14-0.19), Tl (0.058-0.11), U (0.002-0.002), V (0.044-0.054) and Zn (140-160). Concentration levels of Ag, As, Cd, Cs, Pb and Zn were higher in caps than in stipes of S. imbricatus, whereas for other elements the distribution between caps and stipes was nearly equal or for some differed depending on the location. Certainly, the content of toxic Cd in S. imbricatus was elevated (0.45-0.63 mg kg-1 in fresh caps) and therefore eating this mushroom could increase exposure to Cd. In addition, the content of toxic As in S. imbricatus was elevated.
Keywords: Fungi; ICP-MS; elements; heavy metals; mushrooms.