Arsenic and Other Elemental Concentrations in Mushrooms from Bangladesh: Health Risks

Levels and Health Risk Assessment of Inorganic Arsenic, Methylmercury, and Heavy Metals in Edible Mushrooms Collected from Online Supermarket in China

Chromium (Cr), total arsenic (As), inorganic arsenic (iAs), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), methylmercury (MeHg), and lead (Pb) were analyzed in in Agaricus blazei, Tricholoma matsutake, Pholiota nameko, agrocybe aegirit, Boletus edulis, Auricularia auricula, and Lentinus edodes collected from online supermarket in China from 2015 to 2017. The order of mean concentrations for the five heavy metals in edible mushrooms was As > Cd > Cr > Pb > Hg. No positive correlation was found between total As and iAs, nor between total Hg and MeHg. The contents of iAs were at a low level except for A. blazei samples. The contents of MeHg were at a low level in all test mushroom samples. And Cr, Cd, and Pb pollution were common problems in the test mushroom samples. The comprehensive factor pollution index was between 0.569 (A. auricula) and 3.056 (B. edulis). The THQ values for the five heavy metals from P. nameko, A. auricula, A. aegirit, and L. edodes samples were less than 1. The hazard index (HI) values of A. blazei, T. matsutake, and B. edulis samples for adults and children were greater than 1, indicating significant health hazard to the adults and children consumers. The cancer risk (CR) values for iAs ranged from 3.82 × 10- 6 (T. matsutake) to 8.61 × 10- 5 (A. blazei), indicating no potential carcinogenic risk to the consumers. The order for carcinogenic risk of each edible mushroom species was A. blazei > L. edodes > P. nameko > A. aegirit > A. auricula > B. edulis > T. matsutake.

Elucidating Heavy Metals Concentration and Distribution in Wild Edible Morels and the Associated Soil at Different Altitudinal Zones of Pakistan: a Health Risk Implications Study

This study evaluates macro-nutrient (MN) and prevailing heavy metal (HM) concentrations in wild edible morels (WEM) species viz., Morchella crassipes, Morchella pulchella, and Morchella eohespera and the associated soil that were collected from different altitudinal zones (Azad Kashmir, Murree, Swat, and Skardu) of Pakistan. A special emphasis on potential health risk analysis for HM in WEM consumption was also explored. In general, MN concentration in fruiting bodies and their associated soil samples were in the following order: potassium (K) > magnesium (Mg) > calcium (Ca) > sodium (Na) and Ca > Mg > K > Na, respectively. The concentration for HM in WEM ranged between 20.0 and 78.0 mg/kg, 1.09 and 22.1 mg/kg, 2.1 and 22.1 mg/kg, 0.26 and 13.1 mg/kg, 0.43 and 9.1 mg/kg, 1.07 and 7.0 mg/kg, 1.01 and 5.4 mg/kg, and BDL and 3.1 mg/kg for zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), manganese (Mn), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), and cadmium (Cd), respectively, and those in underlying soil samples, lowest and highest HM concentration were recorded for Zn (33.7-113.6 mg/kg), Cu (13.0-40.8 mg/kg), Ni (3.1-23.0 mg/kg), Pb (1.3-22.0 mg/kg), Co (2.9-5.6 mg/kg), Cr (2.7-11.1 mg/kg), Mn (2.0-7.1 mg/kg), and Cd (1.1 mg/kg 7.6). Although, Cd, Pb, and Zn concentrations in some of the WEM samples and Cd in the soil had exceeded the permissible limits set by different organizations. The greater accumulation/or transfer potential for Zn, Co, Ni, and Cu were recorded in WEM from their associated soil. The health risk index (HRI) for HM in all assessed samples of WEM was < 1, predicting no risk to the consuming population. Furthermore, the correlation analyses depicted that the power of hydrogen (pH), low organic matter contents, and sandy texture are likely to be responsible for HM transfer to the lower pool of soil. But the increasing concentration of HM in WEM warrants threats and suggests further monitoring and future policy plan and implementation to avoid the potential health risks via its regular consumption.

Zinc Biofortification through Basal Zinc Supply Reduces Grain Cadmium in Mung Beans: Metal Partitioning and Health Risks Assessment

Grain zinc (Zn) biofortification with less cadmium (Cd) accumulation is of paramount importance from human health and environmental point of view. A pot experiment was carried out to determine the influence of Zn and Cd on their accumulations in Mung bean tissues (Vigna radiata) in two contrast soil types (Dermosol and Tenosol). The soil types with added Zn and Cd exerted a significant effect on translocation and accumulation of metals in different tissues. The accumulation of Zn and Cd was higher for Tenosol than that for Dermosol. At control, the concentration of Cd followed a pattern, e.g., root > stem > petiole > pod > leaflet > grain for both soils. A basal Zn supply (5 mg kg−1) increased the grain Zn concentration to a significant amount (up to 67%). It also reduced Cd accumulation in tissues, including grains (up to 34%). No non-carcinogenic effect was observed for either the children or the adults as the EDI and PTDI values were below the safety limit; however, the ILCR values exceeded the safety limit, indicating the possibility of some carcinogenic effects. Added Zn helped to reduce the carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health risks on humans.

Arsenic Exposure through Dietary Intake and Associated Health Hazards in the Middle East

Dietary arsenic (As) contamination is a major public health issue. In the Middle East, the food supply relies primarily on the import of food commodities. Among different age groups the main source of As exposure is grains and grain-based food products, particularly rice and rice-based dietary products. Rice and rice products are a rich source of core macronutrients and act as a chief energy source across the world. The rate of rice consumption ranges from 250 to 650 g per day per person in South East Asian countries. The source of carbohydrates through rice is one of the leading causes of human As exposure. The Gulf population consumes primarily rice and ready-to-eat cereals as a large proportion of their meals. Exposure to arsenic leads to an increased risk of non-communicable diseases such as dysbiosis, obesity, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, chronic heart disease, cancer, and maternal and fetal complications. The impact of arsenic-containing food items and their exposure on health outcomes are different among different age groups. In the Middle East countries, neurological deficit disorder (NDD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) cases are alarming issues. Arsenic exposure might be a causative factor that should be assessed by screening the population and regulatory bodies rechecking the limits of As among all age groups. Our goals for this review are to outline the source and distribution of arsenic in various foods and water and summarize the health complications linked with arsenic toxicity along with identified modifiers that add heterogeneity in biological responses and suggest improvements for multi-disciplinary interventions to minimize the global influence of arsenic. The development and validation of diverse analytical techniques to evaluate the toxic levels of different As contaminants in our food products is the need of the hour. Furthermore, standard parameters and guidelines for As-containing foods should be developed and implemented.

Wild mushrooms from Ilgaz Mountain National Park (Western Black Sea, Turkey): element concentrations and their health risk assessment

The purpose of this study was to determine Fe, Cd, Cr, Se, P, Cu, Mn, Zn, Al, Ca, Mg, and K contents of some edible (Chlorophyllum rhacodes, Clavariadelphus truncatus, Clitocybe nebularis, Hydnum repandum, Hygrophorus pudorinus, Infundibulicybe gibba, Lactarius deliciosus, L. piperatus, L. salmonicolor, Macrolepiota mastoidea, Russula grata, Suillus granulatus, and Tricholoma imbricatum), inedible (Amanita pantherina, Geastrum triplex, Gloeophyllum sepiarium, Hypholoma fasciculare, Phellinus vorax, Pholiota limonella, Russula anthracina, and Tapinella atrotomentosa), and poisonous mushroom species (Amanita pantherina and Hypholoma fasciculare) collected from Ilgaz Mountain National Park (Western Black Sea, Turkey). The element contents of the mushrooms were determined to be 18.0-1239.1, 0.2-4.6, 0.1-3.4, 0.2-3.2, 1.0-8.9, 3.3-59.9, 3.7-220.4, 21.3-154.1, 6.4-754.3, 15.8-17,473.0, 413.0-5943.0, and 2803.0-24,490.0 mg·kg^-1, respectively. In addition to metal contents, the daily intakes of metal (DIM) and Health Risk Index (HRI) values of edible mushrooms were also calculated. Both DIM and HRI values of mushroom species except L. salmanicolor, M. mastoidea, and R. grata were within the legal limits. However, it was determined that the Fe content of L. salmanicolor and M. mastoidea and Cd content of R. grata were above the legal limits.

Accumulation of Selected Metal Elements in Fruiting Bodies of Oyster Mushroom

The species Pleurotus ostreatus is a commercially, gastronomically, and biotechnologically important fungus. Its strain variability has been little researched. The study provides an evaluation of 59 oyster mushroom production strains in terms of the ability to accumulate selected metals in the cap and stipe. The fruiting bodies were grown under identical model conditions on straw substrate. Metal concentrations (ET-AAS) in dry fruiting bodies ranged in values 1.7-22.4 mg kg-1 for Al, 2.6-9.7 mg kg-1 Ba, 199-4560 mg kg-1 Ca, 1.7-12.0 mg kg-1 Cu, 12-120 mg kg-1 Fe, 16,000-49,500 mg kg-1 K, 876-2400 mg kg-1 Mg, 0.39-11.0 mg kg-1 Mn, 46-920 mg kg-1 Na and 11-920 mg kg-1 for Zn. More Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Zn accumulated in the cap, while in the stipe Ba was amassed. No significant difference was found between Al, Ca and Na between the accumulation in the cap and the stipe. Furthermore, the dependence of metal uptake from the substrate depending on the fortification of the substrate was confirmed. Statistically significant (p < 0.05) synergistic relationships were shown in pairs Al and Ba, Al and Fe, Ba and Na, Ba and Ca, Ca and Na, Cu and Fe, Fe and Mn, Fe and Zn, K and Mg, K and Mn, K and Zn, Mg and Mn, Mg and Na, Mg and Zn and Mn and Zn in the substrate without the addition of sodium selenate to the substrate. Altered relationships were observed after the application of sodium selenate to the substrate, synergism of Se and Ni, Se and Co and Se and Hg, Cu and Mn, Cu and Fe, Zn and Co, Zn and Ni, Zn and Hg, Mn and Fe, Mn and Cr, Co and Ni, Co and Hg, Ni and Hg, Pb and Cd. The findings of the study may help in the selection of production strains with hypercumulative properties for a particular metal and subsequent use in the addition of fortified fruiting bodies (e.g., with Zn). Based on the study the strains less sensitive to the accumulation of hazardous metals is possible to select for large-scale production, which is important from the perspective of food safety.

Direct and Indirect Neurotoxic Potential of Metal/Metalloids in Plants and Fungi Used for Food, Dietary Supplements, and Herbal Medicine

Plants and mushrooms bioconcentrate metals/metalloids from soil and water such that high levels of potentially neurotoxic elements can occur in cultivated and wild species used for food. While the health effects of excessive exposure to metals/metalloids with neurotoxic potential are well established, overt neurological disease from prolonged ingestion of contaminated botanicals has not been recognized. However, the presence of metal elements may affect levels of botanical neurotoxins in certain plants and mushrooms that are established causes of acute and chronic neurological disease.

Arsenic and Its Effect on Nutritional Properties of Oyster Mushrooms with Reference to Health Risk Assessment

Arsenic (As) contamination is endemic in West Bengal, India. Arsenic exposure through mushroom is lethal to health. Pleurotus sp. is globally consumed as food for its medicinal and nutritional values. This study was performed to evaluate the arsenic accumulation in mushroom through arsenic biomagnified rice straw substrate in relation to health risk assessment. Arsenic concentrations were higher in P. ostreatus (12.577 mg/kg DW) and Pleurotus sp. (12.446 mg/kg DW) cultivated in arsenic biomagnified rice straw as compared with P. ostreatus (0.472 mg/kg DW) and Pleurotus sp. (0.434 mg/kg DW) cultivated in non-contaminant rice straw; respectively. The bio-concentration factor (BCF) value of arsenic was highest in stem at 3rd flush for both P. ostreatus and Pleurotus sp. The health risk index (HRI) based on dietary intake of these arsenic biomagnified mushrooms was found moderately higher in both the species, so higher intake of these mushrooms will put people at health risk.

Mineral composition of elements in wood-growing mushroom species collected from of two regions of Poland

The study monitored the content of 55 elements in 21 wood-growing mushroom species collected between 2013 and 2019 from Lower and Upper Silesia in Poland. Only 27 of the elements (Ag, Al, Ba, Ca, Cd, Cu, Fe, In, K, La, Mg, Mn, Na, Nd, Ni, P, Pb, Pr, Pt, Rh, Sr, Ti, Tm, V, Y, Zn, and Zr) were detected in all mushroom species, while others (As, Au, B, Be, Bi, Ce, Co, Cr, Dy, Er, Eu, Ga, Gd, Ge, Hf, Ho, Ir, Li, Lu, Mo, Os, Pb, Rb, Re, Ru, Sb, Sc, Se, Sm, Tb, Te, Th, Tl, Tm, U, and Yb) were below the limit of detection in the fruit bodies of at least one species. Wide ranges for major elements in the whole population of all the mushroom species were as follows: 15.4-470 (Ca), 6580-44,600 (K), 314-2150 (Mg), 38.0-319 (Na), and 1100-15,500 (P) mg kg^-1 dm, respectively. The rank sum revealed that M. giganteus fruit bodies were the most enriched with all detectable elements, while A. mellea had the lowest content of the majority of elements. Mushrooms belonging to the Hymenochaetaceae family were characterized as some of the most enriched with the studied elements, while mushrooms of the Fomitopsidaceae family had the lowest content of elements. Similarities as well as differences between the obtained results and the available literature data confirm the important role of both mushroom species and the tree on which the fungus has grown.

Arsenic and arsenic speciation in mushrooms from China: A review

Arsenic (As) is a natural environmental contaminant to which humans are usually exposed in water, air, soil, and food. China is a typical high-As region, and also a great contributor of the world production of cultivated edible mushrooms and a region abundant in wild growing edible mushrooms. Mushrooms can accumulate different amounts of As and different As compounds, so potential health risk of As intake may exist to people who use mushrooms with elevated As contents as food or medicine. A systematic literature search was carried out for studies on As and As compounds in mushrooms from China. We compiled existing data from published sources in English or Chinese and provide an updated review of the findings on As in mushrooms associated with environments and health risks. Future perspectives for studies on As in mushrooms have also been discussed.

Bioactive Phytochemical Constituents of Wild Edible Mushrooms from Southeast Asia

Mushrooms have a long history of uses for their medicinal and nutritional properties. They have been consumed by people for thousands of years. Edible mushrooms are collected in the wild or cultivated worldwide. Recently, mushroom extracts and their secondary metabolites have acquired considerable attention due to their biological effects, which include antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-obesity, and immunomodulatory activities. Thus, in addition to phytochemists, nutritionists and consumers are now deeply interested in the phytochemical constituents of mushrooms, which provide beneficial effects to humans in terms of health promotion and reduction of disease-related risks. In recent years, scientific reports on the nutritional, phytochemical and pharmacological properties of mushroom have been overwhelming. However, the bioactive compounds and biological properties of wild edible mushrooms growing in Southeast Asian countries have been rarely described. In this review, the bioactive compounds isolated from 25 selected wild edible mushrooms growing in Southeast Asia have been reviewed, together with their biological activities. Phytoconstituents with antioxidant and antimicrobial activities have been highlighted. Several evidences indicate that mushrooms are good sources for natural antioxidants and antimicrobial agents.

Doxycycline transfer from substrate to white button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) and assessment of the potential consumer exposure

The presence of antibiotic residues in the food chain may pose a serious risk to human health. Locating and evaluating new sources of consumer exposure to antibiotic residues in food is a very important element of health protection. The possibility of doxycycline uptake from the substrate for mushroom cultivation by the white button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) fruit body was investigated. Mushrooms were experimentally cultivated on substrate contaminated with 8 different doxycycline concentrations in substrate and analyte concentrations in mushroom samples were measured using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography - triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) The obtained results clearly indicated that doxycycline transfers from contaminated substrate to mushrooms at concentrations ranging from 0.87 to 72.3 µg/kg, depending on substrate contamination concentration level and order of harvesting.

Intake of Heated Leaf Extract of Coriandrum sativum Contributes to Resistance to Oxidative Stress via Decreases in Heavy Metal Concentrations in the Kidney

Coriandrum sativum (coriander) is an annual herb of the Apiaceae family and has been used as a traditional remedy. Here we examined whether heated leaf extract of coriander decreases the concentrations of heavy metals in tissues. Male ddY mice were given a drinking water containing 0.25% of heated leaf extract of coriander for 8 weeks. Eight weeks after the intake, the concentrations of zinc, iron, copper, arsenic, and cadmium were measured in the liver and kidney. The intake of coriander did not modify the concentrations of all heavy metals tested in the liver, but decreased the concentrations of iron, arsenic, and cadmium in the kidney. Because heavy metals can induce oxidative stress, the effect of coriander intake on hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress was compared between slices from the kidney and liver. The slices were immersed in Ringer solution containing 100 μM hydrogen peroxide and aminophenyl fluorescein (APF), a probe for detecting reactive oxygen species (ROS). APF fluorescence was markedly increased in the control kidney slices, while the increase was completely blocked in kidney slices from coriander intake group. In contrast, APF fluorescence was also markedly increased in the control liver slices, while the increase was not blocked by coriander intake. The present study indicates that intake of coriander leaf extract contributes to powerful resistance to oxidative stress in the kidney, probably via decreased concentrations in heavy metals. It is likely that decrease in arsenic concentration to the detection limit is a major factor for the resistance.