Elsevier, Chemosphere, 11(64), p. 1837-1844
DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2006.01.060
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Species of macrofungi (mushrooms) were collected from clean areas and analyzed for their antimony content. These were compared to species collected from extremely polluted areas in the vicinity of a lead smelter and on mine and slag dumps. Antimony content was determined using long-term instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). Ectomycorrhizal and terrestrial saprobic macrofungi were examined. Antimony content of macrofungi from the clean areas was mostly less than 100 microg kg(-1) (dry mass). The highest concentrations (units of mg kg(-1)) were found in various species of the ectomycorrhizal genera Chalciporus and Suillus. Antimony contents of macrofungi growing in the polluted areas were considerably higher. The highest content was found in a single collection of Chalciporus piperatus (1,423 mg kg(-1)).