Eight different species of wild edible mushrooms (Cantharellus cibarius, Hydnum repandum, Lactarius salmonicolor, Xerocomus chrysenteron, Agaricus cupreobrunneus, Amanita franchetii, Hygrophorus eburneus and Hygrophorus chrysodon) representing seven different families (Cantharellaceae, Hydnaceae, Boletaceae, Russulaceae, Agaricaceae, Amanitaceae, Hygrophoraceae) growing in Epirus (Ioannina) and West Macedonia (Grevena, Kastoria), regions of Greece were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) for their metal (Mg, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ph, Cd, Al, As and Sri) content. All metal concentrations were determined on a dry weight basis (d.w.). The metal content of mushroom samples ranged from 739-1165 mu g/g d.w. for Mg, 0.41 to 13.1 mu g/g d.w. for Cr, 11.4 to 100 mu g/g d.w. for Mn, 46.3 to 317 mu g/g d.w. for Fe, not detected-3.34 mu g/g d.w. for Co, 0.28 to 10.1 mu g/g d.w. for Ni, 3.80 to 32.6 mu g/g d.w. for Cu, 35.9 to 96.9 mu g/g d.w. for Zn, not detected-1.37 mu g/g d.w. for Pb and 0.08 to 0.41 mu g/g d.w. for Cd. As, Sn and Al concentrations were under the detection limit of the method used. This research proves that wild edible fungi which consumed traditionally in Epirus (Ioannina) and West Macedonia (Grevena, Kastoria), Greece can be used in well-balanced diets due to their high contents of functional minerals. Also, their low contents of heavy metals (Pb, Cd and As) shows that collection areas are not polluted, therefore all collected edible mushroom species can be unreservedly consumed without any health risk. (c) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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