MERCURY CONTENT IN THE WILD EDIBLE LECCINUM MUSHROOMS GROWING IN SLOVAKIA: ENVIRONMENTAL AND HEALTH RISK ASSESSMENT

The samples of 4 mushroom species from the genus Leccinum ((Leccinum pseudoscabrum (Kallenb.) Sutara, Leccinum scabrum (Bull.) Gray, Leccinum duriusculum (Schulzer ex Kalchbr.) Singer, and Leccinum albostipitatum den Bakker & Noordel) were picked from 6 forested areas of Slovakia in 2020 (Cacin - Jelsovec, Hlinik and Hronom, Kurima - Taras, Mnisek nad Popradom, Snina - Stefekovo, Zakylske pleso). Total mercury content in soil and mushroom parts was determined by cold-vapor AAS analyzer AMA 254. Mercury content in monitored soil samples ranged from 0.07 to 0.18 mg.kg(-1) DM. The limit value for Hg in soil ( 0.50 mg.kg(-1)) was not exceeded. Mercury content in analyzed cap samples ranged from 0.41 to 7.52 mg.kg(-1) DM. Mercury content in analyzed stem samples ranged from 0.40 to 2.91 mg.kg(-1) DM. The EU limit value in edible mushrooms for Hg (0.75 mg kg(-1) FW) was exceeded in caps from Mnisek nad Popradom. Values of the bioconcentration factor indicate that Leccinum mushrooms are accumulators of Hg. The PTWI of Hg was not exceeded. The THQ of all samples was lower than 1. This means that the average consumption of mushrooms from this localities should not cause a serious risk to human health. However, the intake of Hg from other sources must also be taken into account.