Research Progress on Bioaccumulation Characteristics and Uptake Mechanisms of Arsenic and Mercury in Edible Mushrooms

Abstract

Edible mushrooms, including cultivated and wild mushroom, are highly susceptible to absorption and accumulation of metal(loid)s from soils. Mercury (Hg) and arsenic (As) are typical toxic metal(loid)s in soils, which are readily absorbed by edible mushrooms, transported and enriched via the food chain and finally enters the human body, posing potential risks to food safety. The accumulation and potential risks of As and Hg in edible mushrooms (especially wild mushrooms) have attracted increasing attention, but a systematic review on their pollution characteristics and absorption mechanisms is lacking. Therefore, this paper reviews the concentrations and distribution characteristics (in the cap and stipe) of As and Hg in cultivated and wild mushrooms, with a focus on the accumulation ability, transportation ability and uptake modes (passive adsorption on the cell surface and active uptake within cells), which provides basic information for comparative analysis of differences in As and Hg absorption, enrichment and distribution between cultivated and wild mushrooms, and provide theoretical support for in-depth studies on the process and mechanism of metal(loid)s accumulation in edible mushrooms. This review is of practical significance for the prevention and control of the risk of heavy metals accumulation in edible mushrooms and for protecting the safety of edible mushrooms.

Keywords

• cultivated mushroom; wild mushroom; arsenic; mercury; bioaccumulation; food safety