Wild mushrooms have been known to have a propensity to absorb heavy metals from their environments. Many studies have found metal concentrations in mushroom species from exotic places such as Turkey and Poland. This study will examine the metal content of the stems from two species of mushrooms obtained near Clarion University in Western Pennsylvania by the Nix research group. The stems of <i>Lactarius vinaceorufescens</i> and <i>Lactarius hibbardae</i> were digested in nitric acid and then analyzed for Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn, Cd, and Pd concentrations using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy. These results were then compared to the metal concentrations of the caps from the same samples. The samples were collected from three distinct locations: near an un-reclaimed acid-mine drainage site, near a reclaimed acid-mine drainage site (State Game Lands #72), and from an undisturbed location (Cook’s Forest State Park). The concentration of metals among mushrooms from each site, in both caps and stems, will be compared.

Metals in mushrooms of western Pennsylvania

251st National Meeting (2016)

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