Heavy metals in edible mushroom Boletus reticulatus Schaeff. collected from Zrin mountain, Croatia

Background and Purpose: Trace element contents in genus Boletus from Croatia are very limited. The aim of this study is to give detailed trace element concentrations in ectomychorrhizal edible mushroom Boletus reticulatus from Zrin mountain. Material and Method: Fruiting bodies of the Boletus reticulatus were collected in a study area of Zrin mountain (Croatia). The contents of Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Ni, Pb and Zn in fruiting bodies of ectomychorrhizal species were carried out by atomic adsorption spectrometry. Results and Conclusions: The results showed that concentrations of the studied elements decreased in order: Zn (91,31 mg kg–1) > Fe (57,27 mg kg–1) > Cu (13,80 mg kg–1) > Pb (4,20 mg kg–1) > Ni (2,67 mg kg–1) > Cr (2,52 mg kg–1) > Hg (2,38 mg kg–1) > Cd (1,66 mg kg–1). The essential elements in fruiting bodies of Boletus reticulatus were much higher than those of toxic elements. The possibility of toxicological effects on human health consumption of investigated species (Boletus reticulatus) is negligible.