Analysis of heavy metals in some wild-grown edible mushrooms from the middle black sea region, Turkey

Concentrations of heavy metals (Cu, Cd, Pb, Zn, Mn, Fe, Cr and Ni) were determined in wild-grown edible mushrooms. The mushroom samples were collected from Tokat in the Middle Black Sea region of Turkey. The analyses were performed using a Perkin–Elmer Analyst 700 Atomic Absorption Spectrometer. The results indicated that the levels of heavy metals in mushrooms were high in some species. The level of Cu was the highest in Agaricus bisporus as 107 ± 8.5 μg/g. The levels of Cd, Pb, Zn and Mn conformed to the FAO/WHO (1976) standards. Fe content was higher than other metals in all mushroom species. The concentrations of Cr were highest in Marasmius oreades, Armillaria mellea and Morchella elata in this study. The highest Ni contents were observed in Armillaria mellea, Marasmius oreades, Morchella vulgaris and Agaricus bisporus.