Uranium, thorium and rare earth elements in macrofungi: what are the genuine concentrations?

• Published in: Biometals Vol. 24; no. 5; pp. 837 - 845
• Main Authors: Borovička, Jan, Kubrová, Jaroslava, Rohovec, Jan, Řanda, Zdeněk, Dunn, Colin E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.10.2011; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Bedrock; Biochemistry; Biogeochemistry; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Cell Biology; Drying; Fungi; Fungi - chemistry; Fungi - classification; Geochemistry; Life Sciences; Mass Spectrometry; Mathematical analysis; Medicine/Public Health; Metal concentrations; Metals; Metals, Rare Earth - analysis; Microbiology; Neutron Activation Analysis; Pharmacology/Toxicology; Plant Physiology; Rare earth elements; Thorium; Thorium - analysis; Trace elements; Uranium; Uranium - analysis; Fungi; ENAA; REE; ICP-MS; Bioaccumulation; Metals
• ISSN: 0966-0844; 1572-8773
• DOI: 10.1007/s10534-011-9435-4

Concentrations of uranium, thorium and rare earth elements (REE) in 36 species of ectomycorrhizal (26 samples) and saprobic (25 samples) macrofungi from unpolluted sites with differing bedrock geochemistry were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Analytical results are supported by use of certified reference materials (BCR-670, BCR-667, NIST-1575a) and the reliability of the determination of uranium was verified by epithermal neutron activation analysis (ENAA). It appears that data recently published on these elements are erroneous, in part because of use of an inappropriate analytical method; and in part because of apparent contamination by soil particles resulting in elevated levels of thorium and REE. Macrofungi from unpolluted areas, in general, did not accumulate high levels of the investigated metals. Concentrations of uranium and thorium were generally below 30 and 125 μg kg −1 (dry weight), respectively. Concentrations of REE in macrofungi did not exceed 360 μg kg −1 (dry weight) and their distribution more or less followed the trend observed in post-Archean shales and loess.