Martin Hauptvogl

Contamination of wild-grown edible mushrooms by heavy metals in a former mercury-mining area

The aim of this study was to evaluate the contamination of six edible wild species of mushrooms (Boletus pulverulentus, Cantharellus cibarius, Lactarius quietus, Macrolepiota procera, Russula xerampelina and Suillus grevillei) by heavy metals (Hg, Cd, Pb, Zn, Cu, Ni, Cr, Co, Mn and Fe). Mushroom samples were collected from sites contaminated by emissions from mining and processing of polymetallic ores in operation during the period 1969–1993 in Rudňany, southeast Slovakia. The four study sites spanned up to a 5-km distance from the emission source. The collected mushroom samples were analyzed using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry and/or Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry with graphite furnace. Mercury, Cd and, in some samples, also Pb present the highest risks in terms of contamination of the food chain following subsequent consumption. The content of two metals in the dry matter (dm) of the mushrooms exceeded the limits set by the European Union (EU; Cd: 0.5 mg/kg dm, Pb: 1.0 mg/kg dm). The highest mean contents of the eight metals recorded for S. grevillei were 52.2, 2.15, 107, 104, 2.27, 2.49, 81.6 and 434 mg/kg dm for Hg, Pb, Zn, Cu, Ni, Cr, Mn and Fe, respectively. The highest content of Cd was recorded in M. procera (3.05 mg/kg dm) and that of Co in L. quietus (0.90 mg/kg dm). The calculated weekly intake for Hg, Pb and Cd shows that regular consumption of mushrooms from the studied area poses risks to human health.

Human exposure to heavy metals and possible public health risks via consumption of wild edible mushrooms from Slovak Paradise National Park, Slovakia

The contamination level of 92 samples (12 species) of wild edible mushrooms and underlying substrates with heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Hg, Pb and Zn) in the Slovak Paradise National Park that borders with a region of historical mining and processing of polymetallic ores, were determined. The collected samples were analyzed using of atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The metals were determined separately in hymenophore (H) and rest of fruit bodies (RFB). Bioaccumulation factor as well as ratio of metal content in H and RFB were calculated. Cadmium and lead contents in hymenophore exceeded statutory limits of the EU (Cd: 0.5 mg/kg dry weight (dw), Pb: 1.0 mg/kg dw) for edible mushrooms in 96% and 83% of the samples, respectively. The risk from the consumption of the collected mushroom species was calculated based on the provisionally tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) values, and the highest health risk arising with consumption of particularly Macrolepiota procera, Marasmius oreades and Russula vesca from the observed area was demonstrated. It was shown that average weekly consumption of tested mushrooms species results the threat of exceeding of PTWI limits in the case of cadmium values (by 164%, 86% and 4% of PTWI for M. oreades, R. vesca and R. puellaris, respectively) and of mercury (by 96% of PTWI for M. procera) but not lead.

Assessment of environmental and health risks in former polymetallic ore mining and smelting area, Slovakia: Spatial distribution and accumulation of mercury in four different ecosystems

Former long-term mining and smelting of pollymetallic ores in the Middle Spiš area caused a serious contamination problem of the environment with heavy metals and metalloids, especially mercury (Hg). Several studies have reported concentration of Hg in the area but this paper provides first detailed characterization of Hg contamination of different environmental components in agricultural, forest, grassland and urban ecosystems. The ecosystems are in different distances from emission sources - former mercury and copper smelting plants in NE Slovakia. Total Hg content was studied in soil/substrate samples (n = 234) and characteristic biological samples (Athyrium filix-femina (L.) Roth, Macrolepiota procera (Scop.) Singer, Boletus edulis Bull., Cyanoboletus pulverulentus (Opat.) Gelardi, Vizzini & Simonini, Triticum aestivum (L.), Poa pratensis (L.)) (n = 234) collected in the above-mentioned ecosystems. The level of contamination and environmental risks were assessed by contamination factor (Cf), index of geoaccumulation (Igeo) and potential environmental risk index (PER). To determine the level of transition of Hg from abiotic to biotic environment, bioconcentration factor (BCF) was used. To determine a health risk resulting from regular and long-term consumption of the locally available species, the results of the Hg content were compared with the Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake (PTWI) for Hg defined by World Health Organization. The results suggest that almost 63% of the area belong to the very high risk category and 80% of the sampling sites shown very high contamination factor. Geoaccumulation index showed that almost 30% of the area is very strongly contaminated and only 8% is not contaminated with Hg. Spearmans correlation relationship confirmed that the values of PER, BCF, Cf and Igeo decreased with an increasing distance from the pollution source. The percentage of contribution to PTWI ranged between 5.76-69.0% for adults and 11.5-138% for children. Mushroom M. procera showed the highest %PTWI among the tested biological samples. Studied ecotoxicological parameters showed high level of health risk for population living in the area. Consumption of the crops grown in the area and mainly edible wild mushrooms might negatively affect the health of the consumers in the long-term.

Determination of heavy metals concentration in raw sheep milk from mercury polluted area.

The paper focuses on determining the content of monitored contaminants (Cd, Cu, Hg, Pb and Zn) in 53 samples of raw sheep milk collected in 2013 and 2014 on the sites Porac and Matejovce nad Hornadom (middle Spis). The area is characterized by historical mining and metalworking activity (mining and processing of polymetallic ores rich in Hg, Cd and Pb). Currently, the area is one of the most mercury contaminated areas in Central Europe. All statistical analyses were carried out using the statistical software Statistica 10.0 ( Statsoft, USA). Descriptive data analysis included minimum value, maximum value, arithmetic mean and standard deviation. The results of the studied contaminant content show that the limit value for cadmium (10 μg.kg -1 ) was exceeded in 25 samples. In the case of lead, the limit value of 20 μg.kg -1 was exceeded in 16 cases. The limit value for copper (0.4 mg.kg -1 ) was exceeded in one case. The limit value for zinc is not defined by a legislative standard. The risk level of the studied contaminants in the samples of raw sheep milk decreases as follows: Cd > Pb > Hg > Cu > Zn. It can be concluded that frequent and long-term consumption of the raw sheep milk originating from the studied sites poses a health risk. The content of the contaminants in the milk and their eventual transition into dairy products should be monitored over a longer term in more detail. Normal 0 21 false false false CS JA X-NONE

Concentration of Micro- and Macro-Elements in Green and Roasted Coffee: Influence of Roasting Degree and Risk Assessment for the Consumers

The aim of the present study was to determine concentrations of 15 macro- and micro-elements in 10 commercially available plantation Arabica coffee brands. The elemental concentration was studied in 50 samples of green and roasted coffee beans of various roasting degrees and their infusions. There were four different roasting degrees: City + (C+), Full city (FC), Full city ++ (FC++), and Dark (D). The attention was given to the impact of the roasting process on the elemental composition. Statistically significant differences were found between the green coffee beans and the different roasting degrees in both macro- and micro-elements. The results showed that roasting degrees affected the concentration of elements in resulting infusions. Dietary intakes for macro- and micro-elements based on RDA and PTWI (in the case of Al) were calculated. Based on the RDA values for macro- and micro-elements, it can be concluded that coffee infusions are not an important source of elements in nutrition. In the case of Al, consumption of coffee was considered non-hazardous based on the PTWI value.

Methylxanthines and catechines in different teas (Camellia sinensis L. Kuntze) – influence on antioxidant properties

In general, there are four basic types of tea: green (not fermented), black (fermented), oolong and white tea (partially fermented). The differences among these types are in the processing technology, which is largely reflected in their chemical composition. The most influential factor that significantly affects the quality and quantity of substances (biologically active) is the processing temperature, which causes changes in the composition (isomerization and/or transformation). The present paper focuses on monitoring content of three methylxanthines - alkaloids (caffeine, theophylline and theobromine), and seven flavan-3-ols - catechins ((+)-catechin (C), (-)-catechin-3-gallate (C-3-G), (-)-epicatechin (EC), (-)-epicatechin-3-gallate (EC-3-G), (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGC-3-G), (-)-gallocatechin (GC) and (-)-gallocatechin-3-gallate (GC 3-G)), which are characteristic for tea. Attention was also given to the assessment of selected antioxidant parameters using spectrophotometric procedures (ABTS - radical cation decolorization assay and Phosphomolybdenum reducing antioxidant power assay) in relation to the determined substances using RP-HPLC/DAD analysis. Based on the results obtained, it can be concluded that a type of tea clearly affects the quality and quantity of the substances that have a positive impact on the consumers health, significantly reflected in the levels of antioxidant active substances determined by the spectrophotometric procedures. The highest content of methylxanthin, catechins, polyphenols and antioxidant substances was recorded in the green tea sample GT3. The highest content of flavonoids and phenolic acids was recorded in the Pu-erh tea sample PT 5.

Determination of mercury, cadmium and lead contents in different tea and teas infusions (Camelia sinensis, L.)

The present paper deals with assessing the level of contamination of green ( n = 14) and black - fermented ( n = 10) teas of different origins (country of origin) (China, India, Japan, Nepal and Taiwan), which are normally available in Slovakia. The contents of the studied contaminants (mercury, cadmium and lead) were observed in samples of dried teas and their infusions. The contaminant contents were investigated by atomic absorption spectrometry with Zeeman background correction and a graphite furnace GF-AAS (Cd, Pb). The total mercury content was analyzed by CV-AAS method. Concentrations of the studied contaminants in the dried tea samples were as follows: green tea: Hg: 0.0027 ±0.0010 mg.kg -1 (median ± standard deviation); Cd: 0.161 ±0.084 mg.kg -1 , Pb: 0.875 ±0.591 mg.kg -1 , black tea: Hg: 0.0022 ±0.0014 mg.kg -1 , Cd: 0.397 ±0.077 mg.kg -1 , Pb: 1.387 ±0.545 mg.kg -1 . The contents of the contaminants in the tea infusions were as follows: green tea: Hg: 0.03 ±0.04 μg.L -1 , Cd: 0.278 ±0.068 μg.L -1 , Pb: 1.975 ±0.503 μg.L -1 , black tea: Hg: 0.050 ±0.080 μg.L -1 , Cd: 0.291 ±0.054 μg.L -1 , Pb: 1.955 ±1.264 μg.L -1 . According to the currently valid maximum limits for a particular contaminant in Slovakia, it can be stated that the health standards were not exceeded in any of the tea samples. The limit value of the lead content (2.0 mg.kg -1 DM) was exceeded (by 12.4%) only in one sample of the dried black tea from China (Yunnan - Golden Snow), however it is the limit value valid in China. The results of the analysis of 24 tea samples show that even regular consumption does not pose a health risk to consumers. Normal 0 21 false false false SK X-NONE X-NONE Normal 0 21 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE

How to Educate for a Healthy Climate at a University? An Intergenerational Cooperation (A Case Study from Slovakia)

This chapter will give an overview of teachers’ and students’ experience in learning about climate change issues at the Department of Sustainable Development, Faculty of European Studies and Development of the Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, including good and bad practices. It has been written by a teacher and three students with the purpose of integrating different views and approaches. The curricula and study methods of the Faculty of European Studies and Regional Development have been analysed from the point of view of education about climate change. The authors state that knowledge transfer must be followed by motivation for action. It can be said that much has been done to achieve more effective education at university; however, more effort has to be made mainly as regards removing formalism. The “why”, “what”, and “how” seem to be inseparable.