Spatial Variation in Cd, Pb, Hg, and Zn Accumulation in Edible Wild-Growing Mushroom Species from Different Environmentally Loaded Areas in Southern Poland: Risk Assessment and Implications for Consumer Safety.

ABSTRACT: The uptake and accumulation of heavy metals by wild-grown mushrooms is raising health concerns for consumers worldwide with respect to variability conditioned by species and harvesting site specificity. This study aims to evaluate the concentration of elements (Zn) and heavy metals (Cd, Pb, Hg) in wild-growing edible mushroom samples (n = 200) collected from industrial and non-industrial areas in Poland. Over half of the analyzed mushroom samples (51%) exceeded EU limits for Cd, Pb, or Hg. Xerocomellus chrysenteron and X. subtomentosus (XCS) showed the highest accumulation, with median Cd and Pb concentrations of 3.53 mg/kg and 0.63 mg/kg fresh mass, respectively, in industrial areas. Spatial factors, including distance from emission sources and wind direction, significantly influenced ele

SUBMITTER: Rusin M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12845654 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature