We collected and processed Boletus edulis (King Bolete) carpophores grouped in four batches based on their developmental stage (button stage, young—white, large—white, and large—yellow). The study aimed, for the first time, to examine the B. edulis content and effect of braising and to estimate the intake of total mercury (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg) from a single meal based on whole (wet) weight (ww) and dry weight (dw). In braised carpophores, THg concentrations ranged from 0.2668 ± 0.0090 to 0.5434 ± 0.0071 mg kg⁻¹ ww at different developmental stages, whereas crude products concentrations ranged from 0.1880 ± 0.0247 to 0.2929 ± 0.0030 mg kg⁻¹ ww. The button stage crude carpophores were more highly contaminated with THg than at later stages of maturity, but MeHg levels were lower (p < 0.0001). On the other hand, braised button stage carpophores showed more MeHg than at later maturity stages. MeHg contributed at 1.9 ± 0.7% in THg in crude mushrooms and at 1.4 ± 0.3% in braised meals. The effect of braising was to increase the average THg and MeHg contents in fresh mushroom meals by 52 ± 31% and 53 ± 122% respectively, but a reduction of 40 ±14% and 40 ± 49% respectively was seen on a dw basis. The potential intakes of THg and MeHg from braised meals of B. edulis studied were small and considered safe.

Heavy metals cause serious problems in the environment, and they can be accumulated in organisms, especially in the higher fungi. The concentration of Ni, Cr, Pb, Cd, and Hg in 10 species of edible mushrooms in Medvednica Nature Park, Croatia was therefore determined. In addition, the similarity between the studied species was determined by cluster analysis based on concentrations of the aforementioned metals in the fruiting bodies. The contents of nickel, chromium, lead, cadmium, and mercury in the fruiting bodies of mushrooms were obtained by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. The highest concentrations of Ni (3.62 mg kg⁻¹), Cr (3.01 mg kg⁻¹), and Cd (2.67 mg kg⁻¹) were determined in Agaricus campestris. The highest concentration of Pb (1.67 mg kg⁻¹) was determined in Macrolepiota procera, and the highest concentration of Hg (2.39 mg kg⁻¹) was determined in Boletus edulis. The concentration of all heavy metals significantly differed (p < 0.001) between examined saprophytic and ectomycorrhizal mushrooms. Considering anatomical part of the fruiting body (cap-stipe), a considerably higher concentration of the analyzed elements was found in the cap for all mushroom species. According to calculated bioconcentration factors, all the examined species were found to be bioexclusors of Ni, Cr, and Pb and bioaccumulators of Cd and Hg. Cluster analysis performed on the basis of the accumulation of the studied metals revealed great phenotypic similarity of mushroom species belonging to the same genus and partial similarity of species of the same ecological affiliation.

In the present study, the composition of bio-elements (K, Na, Mg, Ca, Fe, Cu, Zn) and toxic elements (Ag, Cd) in seven edible mushrooms from the rural and woodland region of Morąg (north-eastern Poland) and the rural and industrial region of the Tarnobrzeska Upland (south-eastern Poland) were investigated using a validated method. The species examined were Boletus edulis, Cantharellus cibarius, Leccinum aurantiacum, Leccinum versipelle, Lycoperdon perlatum, Suillus luteus, and Xerocomus subtomentosus. Final determination was carried out by flame atomic absorption spectroscopy (FAAS) after microwave-assisted decomposition of sample matrices with solutions of concentrated nitric acid in the pressurized polytetrafluoroethylene vessels. The contents of the alkali elements and alkali earth elements were determined in the species surveyed. The alkali elements, earth alkali elements, and transition metals (Ag, Cu, Zn, Fe, and Mn) were at typical concentrations as was determined for the same or similar species elsewhere in Poland and Europe. The results may suggest a lack of local and regional emissions of those metallic elements from industrialization of some sites in the Tarnobrzeska Plain. Cadmium was at elevated concentrations in L. versipelle from the Tarnobrzeska Plain but the reason—pollution or geogenic source—was unknown, while it was at typical concentrations in other species.

This study aimed to get an insight into the effects of household processing on the leaching behaviour of ¹³⁷Cs and ⁴⁰K from fresh, frozen and dried Boletus edulis (King Bolete) mushrooms. Three processes were investigated—blanching, blanching and pickling, and drying followed by grinding and soaking. The activity concentrations of ¹³⁷Cs and ⁴⁰K in the fresh unprocessed mushrooms were 270 Bq kg⁻¹ dry biomass (27 Bq kg⁻¹ whole weight) and 590 Bq kg⁻¹ db (59 Bq kg⁻¹ ww), respectively. Blanching of fresh mushrooms decreased ¹³⁷Cs activity by 55%, and ⁴⁰K activity by 34%, and blanching of deep-frozen mushrooms caused a reduction of 52% and 44% (db) (equivalent to whole weight reductions of 37% and 8.5%, and 67% and 22%, respectively). Blanching and pickling of fresh mushrooms decreased ¹³⁷Cs activity by 83% and ⁴⁰K activity by 87%, while blanching deep-frozen mushrooms resulted in decreases of 88% and 80% (db) (whole weight decreases of 77% and 81%, and by ~ 84% and 72%, respectively). This study confirms earlier reports that blanching of fresh or frozen mushrooms alone is not as efficient at removing ¹³⁷Cs as blanching followed by pickling. The study also shows that the initial rate of fruiting body disintegration and pre-preparation (comparing fresh, deep-frozen, or dried and ground) can have an impact on the leaching rate of the water soluble fraction of metallic elements.

Macro-elements (Ca, Fe, K, Mg and Na) and trace elements including some toxic (As, Be, Cd, Co, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Se and Zn) were determined in edible and inedible wild-growing mushrooms (Amanita rubescens, Auricularia polytricha, Boletus edulis, Boletus mirabilis, Clavulina cristata, Helvella crispa, Lactarius deliciosus, Suillus luteus, Termitomyces microcarpus, Termitomyces reticulatus, Termitomyces clypeatus, Termitomyces umkowaanii, Amanita foetidissima, Amanita muscaria, Amanita pantherina, Aseroe rubra, Chlorophyllum molybdites, Ganoderma lucidum, Gymnopilus junonius, Hypholoma fasciculare, Lentinus villosus, Lepista caffrorum, Pycnoporus sanguineus, Panaeolus papilionaceus, Pisolithus tinctorius, Pleurotus ostreatus, Podaxis pistillaris, Russula sardonia, Scleroderma citrinum, Scleroderma michiganense). Analyses of samples were carried out using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry. The elemental content in both edible and inedible mushrooms, in decreasing order, was found to be K >> Na > Ca > Mg > Fe > Mn > Zn > Cu > Se > Co > Ni > Be > Pb ≥ Cd > As. Our study revealed that the accumulation of metals from the soil is independent of whether mushrooms are edible or inedible as uptake is dependent on the soil quality and its environment. Edible mushroom species studied were found to be rich in Se (145–836% towards the RDA) with B. edulis being rich in it, C. cristata in Cu, S. luteus in Fe and H. crispa in Zn, and all contained low concentrations of toxic metals making them suitable for human consumption.