Abstract

This manuscript discusses the credibility of the selenium in mushroom data generated using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP–AES) compared to that from hydride generation atomic absorption spectroscopy (HG–AAS). Selenium (Se) was determined by two methods: one was the widely applied and well validated hydride generation atomic absorption spectroscopy (HG–AAS) that was a reference method, while the validity of using the ICP–AES was tested. We found that Se determination in fungal and plant materials by ICP–AES gives inaccurate and imprecise results. Hence, reports of rather high concentrations of Se determined by ICP–AES for mushrooms that do not accumulate Se or that have not emerged at selenoferous areas should be treated with caution, because such data could be highly biased.

Key words: Data validity, food, fungi, from hydride generation atomic absorption spectroscopy (HG-AAS), inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES), nutrition, selenium.