Selected detrimental and essential elements in fruiting bodies of culinary and toxic medicinal macroscopic fungi growing in the Bohemian Forest, the Czech Republic.

Selected wild-growing edible fungi (Boletus edulis, Neoboletus luridiformis, Cantharellus cibarius, Macrolepiota procera, Amanita rubescens, Russula virescens, Lycoperdon perlatum, and Flammulina velutipes) along with the poisonous medicinal species Amanita muscaria were collected from five sites in the Bohemian Forest, the Czech Republic and analyzed regarding the contents of 19 elements (Ag, Al, As, Be, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Li, Mg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Rb, Se, Tl, and Zn) in their fruiting bodies. The contents of the elements as well as bioconcentration factors (ratios of the element content in dry matter of the mushroom to the content in the soil; BCF) were significantly species dependent. In general, the analysis revealed the most intensive accumulation of Cd, Rb, Ag, Cu, Se, and Zn in the studied mushrooms. B. edulis accumulated Ag, Se, Cd, Rb, Cu, and Zn with average BCF of 31, 25, 18, 13, 3.9, and 2.6, respectively. On the other hand, A. rubescens accumulated Cd, Rb, Ag, Cu, Zn, and As (BCF of 41, 27, 4.8, 3.3, 2.1, and 1.4). The data concerning the detrimental elements in sporocarps of edible mushrooms indicate no negative effect on human health if the fungi are consumed occasionally or as a delicacy.

Enrichment of Culinary-Medicinal Oyster Mushroom, Pleurotus ostreatus (Agaricomycetes), Cultivated on the Straw Substrate with Zinc and Selenium.

Pleurotus ostreatus was cultivated on a commercially available wheat straw substrate enriched with Zn and Se. Various amounts of Zn (10, 50, and 100 mg) and Se (1, 5, and 10 mg) in suitable forms ((CH3COO)2Zn·2H2O, Zn(NO3)2·6H2O, and Na2SeO3·5H2O, respectively) were dissolved in 50 ml of deionized water and homogenously nebulized into the substrate block of 2.4 kg weight. The increase in the Zn content in fruiting bodies cultivated on the enriched substrate was relatively low compared with fruiting bodies cultivated on the substrate with no addition at the first flush. The application of different Zn compounds (acetate vs. nitrate) gave similar results. However, the addition of 1 mg of Se into the cultivation substrate block increased the content of Se in fruiting bodies to about 3-6 mg/kg dry matter. This content was one order of magnitude higher compared with the Se content in fruiting bodies harvested from the substrate with no Se addition (< 0.12-0.58 mg/kg dry matter). In the case of the addition of 5 mg of Se, there was a further significant increase in the content of this element to about 40-60 mg/kg dry matter.

Determination of Detrimental and Essential Elements in Medicinal Mushrooms Tylopilus felleus, Auricularia auricula-judae, and Pleurotus ostreatus (Agaricomycetes).

In this study, selected detrimental and essential elements were determined in fruiting bodies of Auricularia auricula-judae, Tylopilus felleus, and Pleurotus ostreatus medicinal mushrooms. A. auricula-judae and T. felleus were collected from sampling sites situated in South Bohemia, the Czech Republic, while P. ostreatus samples were obtained after cultivation under defined conditions on a straw substrate block. The elements were determined in underlying soils for T. felleus and bioconcentration factors were calculated. The analysis revealed that T. felleus accumulated Rb, Cd, Cu, Zn, Se, and Mg, with bioconcentration factors of 65.7, 2.47, 2.32, 1.93, 1.67, and 1.27, respectively. The analysis also revealed high contents (expressed as medians) of Ca (1600 mg/kg) and Mg (2040 mg/kg) in A. auricula-judae. On the other hand, the contents of detrimental elements such as Pb (0.10 mg/kg), Cd (0.33 mg/kg), and As (0.10 mg/kg) were lower. In cultivated P. ostreatus, lower element contents for Pb (< 0.05 mg/kg), Al (3.92 mg/kg), Ca (53.6 mg/kg), Mn (3.22 mg/kg), Ni (0.11 mg/kg), and Sr (0.93 mg/kg) were determined compared to both wild-growing A. auricula-judae and T. felleus. No negative effect on human health is expected for the mushroom species studied due to the accumulation of detrimental microelements.

Detrimental and essential elements in fruiting bodies of wild-growing fungi Coprinus comatus, Flammulina velutipes, and Armillaria ostoyae.

Edible medicinal wild-growing fungi Coprinus comatus, Flammulina velutipes, and Armillaria ostoyae were analyzed with regard to the contents of 21 elements in their fruiting bodies. The samples were collected from selected sites in South Bohemia, the Czech Republic. C. comatus concentrated Ag, Cd, Cu, Se, and Rb with bioconcentration factors of 12, 2.5, 2.3, 1.8, and 1.1, respectively. High contents (all values expressed in mg kg-1 dry matter) of Al (260), Ca (480), Cu (61), Fe (340), Mg (1400), and Zn (86) were determined for this species. F. velutipes was characterized with markedly high contents of Ca (360), Fe (110), Mg (1200), Mn (26), and Zn (98), respectively. A considerably high content of Ag (5.6) was revealed for A. ostoyae. High contents of Ca (150), Cu (28), Fe (190), Mg (1100), Mn (30), and Zn (40) were determined in fruiting bodies of this species as well. The data concerning the detrimental elements in fruiting bodies of studied fungi indicate no considerably negative effect on human health if they are consumed as a delicacy or used in alternative medicine.

Detrimental and essential elements in fruiting bodies of mushrooms with ecological relationship to birch (Betula sp.) collected in the Bohemian Forest, the Czech Republic.

Four macrofungi species with ecological relationship to birch (Betula sp.) were analyzed with regard to the content of 21 detrimental and essential elements in their fruiting bodies. Two of the species (Leccinum scabrum and Leccinum versipelle) were mycorrhizal forming edible fruiting bodies while the others (Fomitopsis betulina and Inonotus obliquus) parasitic used in alternative medicine. The samples were collected near the town of Vimperk in the Bohemian Forest, the Czech Republic. L. scabrum accumulated Ag, Rb, Cd, Cs, Se, Cu, and Zn with bioconcentration factors of 22, 5.5, 4.7, 3.2, 2.0, 1.7, and 1.4, respectively. Similar trend in bioconcentration was revealed for L. versipelle with bioconcentration factors of 28, 5.2, 2.4, 1.9, 1.6, and 1.6 determined for Ag, Rb, Cu, Se, Zn, and Cd, respectively. Considerably high contents of Ca (400 ± 190 mg kg-1 dry matter), Fe (110 ± 30), Mg (1100 ± 300), and Zn (220 ± 90) were found in F. betulina. Similarly, high contents of Ca (1000 ± 700 mg kg-1 dry matter), Fe (110 ± 30), Mg (2000 ± 1100), Mn (410 ± 270), Rb (160 ± 60), and Zn (140 ± 70) were determined for I. obliquus. The different lifestyles (mycorrhizal vs. parasitic) were reflected in 13 significant differences of element contents.

The three-year monitoring of 18 elements in five edible mushroom species collected from an old orchard.

The content of Al, As, Be, Cd, Ca, Cr, Co, Cu, Fe, Pb, Li, Mg, Mn, Ni, Rb, Se, Sr, and Zn in fruiting bodies of edible mushrooms Calocybe gambosa, Entoloma clypeatum, Entoloma saepium, Xerocomellus chrysenteron, and Amanita rubescens growing in an orchard planted with fruit trees and situated close to a high-grown forest was studied during years 2016-2018. A. rubescens showed the highest potential of the element accumulation with bioconcentration factors of 48.5, 16.2, 7.80, 6.53, 1.75, and 1.68 obtained for Rb, Cd, Cu, Zn, Sr, and Mg, respectively. Both Entoloma species accumulated the elements similarly with bioconcentration factors >1.0 obtained for Rb, Cu, Cd, and Mg. Bioconcentration factors <0.05 were obtained for Al, Cr, Fe, and Pb in all studied species. The contents of beryllium (<0.1 mg/kg dry matter) were always the lowest among the studied elements. The contents of some elements of studied mushroom species significantly fluctuated over the years. Despite the fact that some studied elements (As, Be, Cd, Pb, Ni) are considerably toxic for humans, the pronounced effect on health is not expected if the studied mushroom species are consumed occasionally and do not represent the main component of the diet.

The fate of selected heavy metals and arsenic in a constructed wetland.

The fate of Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn, Ni, Cr, and As in a horizontal subsurface flow-constructed wetland was studied. The concentrations of the risk elements in treated municipal wastewater, wetland sediments, and Phragmites australis biomass were determined. Most of the studied elements were removed from the wastewater with fair efficiencies. On the other hand, As was released to treated water in the wetland bed. The removal efficiencies obtained for the individual elements were as follows: 64.2, 48.7, 70.0, 93.9, 63.6, 63.8, and -236.2%, respectively. The concentrations measured in sediments were the highest for samples taken 1 m from the inflow zone. They were 4.11, 2.01, 6.01, 4.85, 3.39, 9.30, and 3.17 times higher as compared to the samples taken in the distance of 10 m. The pollutants were preferentially deposited at the front part of the wetland bed where anaerobic conditions predominated and sulfate reduction took place. There were no significant differences in the concentrations of the studied elements in the aboveground biomass (Phragmites australis) samples taken in the distances of 1, 5, and 10 m from the inflow zone. However, the concentrations measured in the belowground biomass samples were significantly higher for samples taken at the front part of the wetland bed. The individual element concentration ratios between the below- and aboveground biomass measured for samples taken 1 m from the inflow zone were 4.97, 5.97, 2.21, 1.58, 2.26, 5.70, and 2.66 for Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn, Ni, Cr, and As, respectively.

The Accumulation of Risk and Essential Elements in Edible Mushrooms Chlorophyllum rhacodes, Suillus grevillei, Imleria badia, and Xerocomellus chrysenteron Growing in the Czech Republic.

Risk and essential elements were determined in fruiting bodies of wild growing edible mushrooms Chlorophyllum rhacodes, Suillus grevillei, Imleria badia, and Xerocomellus chrysenteron collected in an unpolluted site in South Bohemia, the Czech Republic. The elements were also determined in underlying soils and the bioconcentration factors were calculated. The analyses revealed that C. rhacodes accumulated Ag, Cu, Rb, Se, Zn, As, Cd, and Tl. On the other hand, S. grevillei accumulated Cd, Rb, Ag, Se, and Cs. I. badia and X. chrysenteron strongly accumulated Rb, Cs, and Ag; these species showed the ability to accumulate Cu and Zn as well. Contents of detrimental CrVI were in all cases below the quantification limit (0.003 mg kg-1 dry matter). Studied mushroom species (mainly C. rhacodes) accumulated some toxic elements. However, no considerable effect on human health is expected since they are usually consumed as a delicacy and do not represent a major component of diet.

Removal of Selected Metals from Wastewater Using a Constructed Wetland.

Removal of selected metals from municipal wastewater using a constructed wetland with a horizontal subsurface flow was studied. The objective of the work was to determine the efficiency of Cu, Zn, Ni, Co, Sr, Li, and Rb removal, and to describe the main removal mechanisms. The highest removal efficiencies were attained for zinc and copper (89.8 and 81.5%, respectively). It is apparently due to the precipitation of insoluble sulfides (ZnS, CuS) in the vegetation bed where the sulfate reduction takes place. Significantly lower removal efficiencies (43.9, 27.7, and 21.5%) were observed for Li, Sr, and Rb, respectively. Rather, low removal efficiencies were also attained for Ni and Co (39.8 and 20.9%). However, the concentrations of these metals in treated water were significantly lower compared to Cu and Zn (e.g., 2.8 ± 0.5 and 1.7 ± 0.3 µg/l for Ni at the inflow and outflow from the wetland compared to 27.6 ± 12.0 and 5.1 ± 4.7 µg/l obtained for Cu, respectively). The main perspective of the constructed wetland is the removal of toxic heavy metals forming insoluble compounds depositing in the wetland bed. Metal uptake occurs preferentially in wetland sediments and is closely associated with the chemism of sulfur and iron.

Degradation of surface-active compounds in a constructed wetland determined using high performance liquid chromatography and extraction spectrophotometry.

Degradation of anionic and nonionic surfactants in a constructed wetland with horizontal subsurface flow was studied using high performance liquid chromatography and extraction spectrophotometry. The ratio of individual homologues of linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LAS) and the efficiency of their removal were studied. Tridecyl-, dodecyl-, undecyl-, and decylbenzene sulfonates were removed with efficiencies of 92.9%, 84.3%, 64.7%, and 41.1%, respectively. These differences are due to sequential shortening of the alkyl chain in homologues during degradation (the higher homologue can provide the lower one). The formation of sulfophenyl carboxylic acids during ω-oxidation of the alkyl chain followed by successive α- and/or ß-oxidation is also a possible mechanism for removal of LAS. Solid phase extraction using Chromabond® HR-P columns was used for preconcentration of the analytes prior to their determination by HPLC. Methylene blue active compounds were determined using extraction spectrophotometry. The average efficiency of their removal was 84.9% in this case. The efficiency of nonionic surfactant removal (98.2%) was significantly higher in comparison to that for anionic surfactants. The concentration of the endocrine disruptor nonylphenol (a product of nonylphenol polyethoxylate surfactant degradation) determined in the profile of the wetland was beneath the limit of detection (0.4 µg/L). The average outflow concentrations of anionic and nonionic surfactants determined by spectrophotometry were 0.54 and 0.021 mg/L, respectively. The average outflow concentrations of decyl- and tridecylbenzene sulfonates determined by HPLC were 0.195 and 0.015 mg/L. Efficiencies of 86.4% and 92.2% were obtained for removal of organic compounds as indicated by chemical and biochemical oxygen demand (COD(Cr) and BOD(5)). These results demonstrate the suitability of the constructed wetland for degrading surface-active compounds.

Levels of eight trace elements in edible mushrooms from a rural area.

Eight trace elements were determined using ICP-MS in 78 fruiting body samples of 22 edible mushroom species. The mushrooms were collected from four sites in a rural area, unpolluted by human activity. Median values (dry matter) were as follows: Arsenic (As) 1.45 mg kg(-1), barium (Ba) 1.41 mg kg(-1), cobalt (Co) 0.28 mg kg(-1), copper (Cu) 47.0 mg kg(-1), rubidium (Rb) 130 mg kg(-1), silver (Ag) 2.95 mg kg(-1), thallium (Tl) 0.02 mg kg(-1) and vanadium (V) 0.25 mg kg(-1). Higher trace element accumulation was observed in samples of Macrolepiota procera, Macrolepiota rhacodes, Lycoperdon perlatum, Lycoperdon gigantea and Xerocomus chrysenteron for As and Cu, and in samples of Cantharellus cibarius and of genera Boletus and Suillus for Rb.