The aim of the study was to examine the element concentrations of common mushroom species and to evaluate the possible health risks resulting from the consumption of mushrooms. The concentration of Ag, Al, Ca, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mg, Mn, Mo, Pt, Rb, Se, V and Zn was studied for ten commercially sold mushroom species and two other common edible species in southern Finland. The element concentrations were analysed using AAS for selenium, fluorometry for mercury and ICP-MS for the other 14 elements.

The platinum concentration was lower than the detection limit for all mushrooms species (n = 191). The highest aluminium, calcium and vanadium concentration were found in Boletus species. The amounts of mushroom considered safe for consumption were mostly limited by rubidium. When excluding Rb, the maximum amounts of mushroom recommended for consumption were limited by the concentration of chromium in the case of nine of the 12 studied fungi species. Iron was a limiting element for the safe consumption of Suillus variegatus while Agaricus abruptibulbus and Boletus species were limited by silver. In the light of the results the ten commercially sold mushroom species are mainly considered safe to consume. Nevertheless, it is recommended to avoid the consumption of A. abruptibulbus and to consume Boletus species and Suillus variegatus in moderate amounts only.