Feasibility study for mercury remediation by selenium competition in Pleurotus mushrooms

Author(s)

de Oliveira, Aline Pereira ; Naozuka, Juliana ; Figueroa, Julio Alberto Landero

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS; v. 451, p. 12-pg., 2023-03-07.

Abstract

Mushrooms may incorporate significant levels of Hg making its consumption harmful to human health. Mercury remediation induced by Se competition in edible mushrooms represents a valuable alternative since Se plays effective roles against Hg uptake, accumulation, and toxicity. In this way, Pleurotus ostreatus and Pleurotus djamor were cultivated on Hg-contaminated substrate simultaneously supplemented with Se(IV) or Se(VI) under different dosages in this study. The protective role of Se was assessed taking into account morphological char-acteristics and Hg and Se total concentrations determined by ICP-MS, as well as proteins and protein-bound Hg and Se distribution by SEC-UV-ICP-MS, and Hg speciation studies (Hg(II) and MeHg) by HPLC-ICP-MS. Both Se (IV) and Se(VI) supplementation were able to recover the morphology mainly of Hg-contaminated Pleurotus ostreatus. The mitigation effects induced by Se(IV) stood out more than Se(VI) in terms of Hg incorporation, decreasing the total Hg concentration up to 96 %. Also, it was found that supplementation mainly with Se(IV) reduced the fraction of Hg bound to medium molecular weight compounds (17-44 kDa) up to 80 %. Finally, it was shown a Se-induced inhibitory effect on Hg methylation, decreasing MeHg species content in mushrooms exposed to Se(IV) (51.2 mu g g-1) up to 100 %. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 19/00663-6 - The role of selenium speciation in the antagonism of selenium and toxic metals in selenium enriched mushrooms
• Grantee: Aline Pereira de Oliveira
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 17/05009-7 - Evaluation of antagonism between selenium and toxic elements in mushrooms: enrichment and remediation
• Grantee: Aline Pereira de Oliveira
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 18/06332-9 - Elemental enrichment: essentiality and toxicity
• Grantee: Juliana Naozuka
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants