ARSENIC COMPOUNDS IN TERRESTRIAL ORGANISMS .1. COLLYBIA-MACULATA, COLLYBIA-BUTYRACEA AND AMANITA-MUSCARIA FROM ARSENIC SMELTER SITES IN AUSTRIA

Three mushroom species from two old arsenic smelter sites in Austria w ere analyzed for arsenic compounds, The total arsenic concentrations w ere determined by ICP-MS. Collybia maculata contained 30.0 mg, Collybi a butyracea 10.9 mg and Amanita muscaria 21.9 mg As kg(-1) dry mass, T he arsenic compounds extracted with methanol/water (9:1) from the drie d mushroom powders were separated by HPLC on anion-exchange and revers ed-phase columns and detected by ICP-MS using a hydraulic high-pressur e nebulizer. In Collybia maculata almost all arsenic is present as ars enobetaine. Collybia butyracea contained mainly arsenobetaine (8.8 mg As kg(-1) dry mass) and dimethylarsinic acid (1.9 mg As kg(-1)). Amani ta muscaria contained arsenobetaine (15.1 mg As kg(-1)), traces of ars enite, dimethylarsinic acid and arsenate, and surprisingly arsenocholi ne (2.6 mg As kg(-1)) and a tetramethylarsonium salt (0.8 mg As kg(-1) ). (C) 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.