MACROMYCETES AND PLANTS FROM AREAS AFFECTED BY ANTIMONY MINING � BIOCONCENTRATION FACTORS

Species of macrofungi were collected from extremely polluted sampling spots in the vicinity of abandoned antimony mines in Slovakia. Concentrations of potentially toxic elements in plants and fungi were determined by ICP-MS and in soils and sediments by both ICP-MS and ICP-ES. Of the edible species the highest values of arsenic and cadmium were recorded in Agaricus arvensis, lead in Imleria badia and representatives of the genera Boletus, Leccinum and Suillus accumulated high levels of mercury. Suillus species also accumulated high levels of antimony and chromium. Bioconcentration factors were calculated for selected species and antimony, cadmium, and mercury were accumulated by most of the sampled species. Based on the results of our study, we can assume that the species Cardamine amara belongs to accumulators of potentially toxic elements. We do not recommend the consumption of edible mushrooms and medicinal plants from the studied localities, as they may pose a risk of intoxication for humans.