article · Scientific African
This research assesses the trace metal profiles and bioaccumulation tendencies of three wild-grown edible mushroom species collected from forests in south-eastern Nigeria: Pleurotus tuberregium, Auricularia auricular, and Lentinus squarrosulus. Researchers examined forty-five fruiting bodies alongside forty-five wooden substrate samples to measure levels of twelve elements, including calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, lead, and cadmium, using atomic absorption spectroscopy. Concentrations of essential minerals such as calcium, magnesium, manganese, iron, and zinc showed wide variation, whereas potentially toxic elements like lead, cadmium, and nickel remained low or undetectable in some instances. The analysis showed that these wild mushrooms do not bioaccumulate the tested metals from their substrates. Furthermore, dietary exposure estimates for a standard adult portion revealed intake levels below international safety thresholds, with toxic hazard quotient values under one, confirming that consuming these wild mushrooms carries no apparent health hazard from heavy metals.
Wild edible mushrooms provide an important source of nutrition in many forest communities. Establishing their mineral and trace metal safety confirms they can be collected and eaten without risk of heavy metal poisoning. These findings offer scientific assurance to consumers and foraging communities that these three common forest species are safe dietary sources of essential minerals.
This nutritional and safety data could support food processors, commercial foragers, and wild food enterprises seeking native fungi as food ingredients. The evidence confirms baseline consumer safety regarding heavy metals, but the research represents early-stage analytical characterisation. Translating this into commercial food supply chains would require establishing controlled cultivation practices, post-harvest quality standards, and broader regional screening.
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This study investigates the trace metal contents of three wide-grown Nigerian edible mushrooms and their bioaccumulation potentials. Samples of mushroom fruiting body (n = 45) of Pleurotus tuberregium, Auricularia auricular and Lentinus squarrosulus and their wooden substrates (n = 45), respectively, were collected from forest regions in south-eastern Nigeria. The concentrations of Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni and Pb using flame AAS after mineralization using acid. The concentrations varied from 6.23 to 47.63 for Mg; 2.59 to 771 for Ca; 1.27 to 79.46 for Mn; 1.08 to 161 for Fe and BDL to 93.39 for Zn (mg/kg, dry weight). The levels of the other metals were generally low and non-detectable in some instance with maximum concentrations (mg/kg) of 13.45 for Cr; 3.13 for Pb; 4.63 for K; 8.34 for Cu; 1.53 for Na; 5.72 for Cd and 4.56 mg/kg for Ni. The Co contents were <1 mg/kg. The mushrooms did not bioaccumulate the metals. Dietary intakes of the metals from a meal portion (210 g) of the three mushrooms, when consumed by an adult will be below the PTWI set for these elements. The toxic hazard quotient (THQ) values for all the metals were very low (THQ < 1) indicating that the consumption of the mushrooms poses no health risk.
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DOI: 10.1016/j.sciaf.2019.e00163
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