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Mushroom Quality Related with Various Substrates’ Bioaccumulation and Translocation of Heavy Metals

Summary

This research examines how mushrooms can absorb heavy metals from contaminated growing materials and potentially transfer these toxic substances into the food chain. The study is important for both mushroom growers and consumers because it highlights food safety concerns related to mushroom cultivation. Impacts on everyday life: – Highlights the importance of knowing the source and growing conditions of mushrooms we consume – Raises awareness about potential health risks from contaminated mushrooms in our diet – Emphasizes the need for better agricultural waste management practices – Demonstrates how environmental pollution can affect our food safety – Shows the importance of proper substrate selection for home mushroom cultivation

Background

Mushrooms are popular due to their nutritional content and ease of cultivation. They can be grown on various agricultural biomass like sawdust, paddy straw, wheat straw, and other agricultural wastes. As exceptional decomposers, mushrooms play important roles in food web balance and can uptake both essential and non-essential minerals from substrates. However, agricultural biomass used for cultivation is sometimes polluted with heavy metals due to increased anthropogenic activities and urbanization.

Objective

This review aims to examine the sources of agricultural biomass used for mushroom cultivation and track how environmental heavy metals accumulate and translocate into mushroom fruit bodies. It also seeks to evaluate potential health risks from prolonged consumption of heavy metal-contaminated mushrooms to highlight the importance of early contaminant detection for food security.

Results

The review found that mushrooms can absorb both essential metals (Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn) and toxic non-essential metals (Cd, Pb, As) from contaminated substrates. Different mushroom species showed varying levels of metal accumulation, with Pleurotus species demonstrating high biosorption potential. Heavy metals were found to accumulate unevenly in mushroom parts, with higher concentrations typically in sporocarps compared to stipes.

Conclusion

The study concludes that proper selection and monitoring of agricultural biomass substrates is crucial for mushroom cultivation to avoid heavy metal contamination. Detection and selection of suitable substrates is essential for preventing bioaccumulation and translocation of heavy metals into the food chain, which is important for future national food security.
  • Published in:Journal of Fungi,
  • Study Type:Review,
  • Source: 10.3390/jof8010042
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