Metal contents in honey and mushrooms from serpentine soils in the Morais site

Morais site, located in the northeast of Portugal, is known by its geology because it is one of the most representative areas of ultramafic rocks. This kind of soils has particular chemical characteristics, such as high levels of some heavy metals, namely chromium (Cr) and nickel (Ni). However, in Morais site several non-wood forest products (NWFP) are collected by the local community, and, so, it is of great importance to determine the contents of these metals in such food products. In this connection, in the present work three honeys of Morais site (additionally three commercial honeys – control), and nineteen mushroom species collected on four locals were analyzed in relation to calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), Cr and Ni contents. The honeys of Morais site showed higher levels of Ni in relation to the control ones. For the other metals, no differences were detected between these two types of honeys. Even though Morais honeys showed higher Ni levels than the control ones, they do not put in danger human health. Regarding mushrooms, the Trametes sp. (non-edible) was the one that showed always the highest metal concentrations. In relation to the edible species, the Suillus sp. was the one that had the highest levels of Ca, Mn, Cr and Ni. On the other hand, the Agaricus campestris showed the highest Mg concentration. Nevertheless, the metal levels found in mushrooms collected on the Morais site were identical to those reported for other sites.

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