This research examined how three types of wild mushrooms in Croatia accumulate cadmium, a toxic heavy metal, from the soil. While the mushrooms were found to effectively absorb cadmium, the levels present did not pose a health risk to consumers. Impact on everyday life: – Helps ensure the safety of wild mushroom foraging and consumption – Provides data for environmental monitoring of toxic metal pollution – Contributes to food safety guidelines for wild mushroom consumption – Identifies potential bioindicators for environmental contamination monitoring