Investigation of heavy metals in edible mushrooms consumed in Shahrekord

Heavy metal pollution is a major problem in the environmental and health concerns of food. Toxic elements in the environment of mushrooms may be attracted to them, in which case the problem will create mushroom consumption. This study was aimed to determine the concentration of heavy metals, manganese, chromium, iron, lead, zinc and copper in mushroom consumed in Shahrekord.
This study was a cross- sectional research. 6 samples of the edible mushroom cultivation and 2 samples of wild edible mushrooms in the market of Shahrekord were selected. The sampling method was census with 3 repetitions and it was performed at intervals of a month in the spring. 3 samples and a total of 24 samples were taken of each kind of mushroom. The samples were digested using acid digestion, and then, the metal concentration was determined using atomic emission Spectrometry set.
Average values were measured including zinc, (61.29±14.94) (58.48±29.11), Fe (26.29±8.69) (28.30±11.93), Pb (2.05±0.56) (2.07±0.35), Cr (1.46±0.41) (1.1±0.91), Cu (22.99±5.68) (25.83±6.67), and Mn (3.8±0.72) (6.25±0.99) mg/kg in cultivation and wild mushrooms respectively. Findings of this study indicate that the mean concentration of zinc in both mushrooms (cultivation and wild) was at allowable standard level (CODEX/FAO/WHO), Chromium, lead, iron exceeded the standard, and manganese, copper, less was than the standard limit.
Regards to some samples of contained heavy metals, chromium, lead, iron levels are higher than standard level. With regard to the increasing consumption of edible mushrooms cultured in Iran, it is required more careful about the conditions and environments.