Evaluation of antagonism between selenium and toxic elements in mushrooms: enrichment and remediation

Abstract

The mushrooms have great importance for the ecosystem, being able to biodegrade organic substrates. The consumption of edible mushrooms should be highlighted in human nutrition, in which the fungi of the genus Pleurotus are among the most consumed and cultivated mushrooms. Due to the presence of selenium in its composition (1 - 20 mg g-1) and be bioaccumulators, the mushrooms have been the object of studies aimed at the total determination, chemical speciation and its enrichment with this element. Mushrooms are also interesting in research on bioremediation, due to the high capacity to accumulate toxic elements, such as cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg) and lead (Pb). Selenium has the ability to remedy the contamination of mushrooms, in which competition among the elements can provide the minimization and/or elimination of toxic elements. The competition between the different species of Se with toxic metals, as well as the species formed after enrichment or remediation still need further study. In this way, the project aims to evaluate the synergistic relationship between essential and toxic elements through the enrichment of shimeji (Pleurotus ostreatus) and salmon (Pleurotus djamor) mushrooms with Se and the protective role of this element in the toxicity of Cd, Hg, and Pb through chemical speciation studies. The effects of enrichment, competition between the elements and remediation will be evaluated by determining the total concentration of Se, Cd, Hg and Pb, through studies of chemical speciation of Se and Hg. Beyond the elemental chemical speciation, the project will be completed with elemental bioaccessibility studies.