A B S T R A C T Six essential elements, cadmium and lead were determined in (0429 mg k g -and 0.221 mg kg-respectively) are taken into account, the daily intake contribut*ion of these metals will be 1.4 p g day-' for cadmium and I1 pg day-' f o r lead.

The mercury content of 117 mushroom samples corresponding to 8 different species collected in the Sierra of Cordoba (Spain) was determined by cold vapor atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The results obtained showed that the mercury content differed according to the species and to the anatomical group examined. Samples of Psalliota xanthoderma showed maximum levels (0.669–0.210 mg/kg, fresh weight) and the ratio cap/stem obtained is 1.32. The concentration levels were compared to literature data and the contribution of mushrooms to the daily intake of mercury in Spain was evaluated.