Submit your papersSubmit Now
For Enquiries: [email protected]
IIARD LogoIIARD

Heavy Metal Determination and Risk Assessment of Selected Mushroom Species and their Substrates in South-eastern Nigeria

Iroegbulam Christopher, Nwoko Chris Obioma, Okeke Peter Ndu, Njoku-Tony, Roseline Feechi

Abstract

Heavy metals contaminate the environment and pose significant health risks to humans through accumulation in ecosystems, leading to toxicity and various diseases. This study assessed heavy metal contamination and associated risks in selected mushroom species and their substrates across southeastern Nigeria. Using a stratified random sampling approach, representative mushroom and substrate samples were collected from five states: Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo. Soil chemical properties were analyzed using standard methods, while heavy metals were determined using an Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (Varian Spectra AA 200). Data were subjected to analysis of variance , and significant means were separated using Duncan’s Multiple Range Test at a 5% probability level. Results showed significant variations in heavy metal concentrations (Pb, Ni, Cr, Fe, and Cd) in both mushrooms and substrates, as well as in soil chemical properties (pH, organic carbon, organic matter, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, electrical conductivity, and cation exchange capacity) across species and sampling locations. The distribution of heavy metals followed the order Fe > Pb > Ni > Cr > Cd in oyster mushrooms and Fe > Pb > Ni > Cd > Cr in Agaricus species. Ebonyi State recorded the highest contamination levels for most heavy metals (Pb, Ni, Cd) in oyster mushrooms, followed by Anambra (Fe) and Abia (Cr). Similarly, Agaricus mushrooms from Ebonyi showed the highest contamination for Pb, Ni, Cr, and Cd, while Anambra recorded higher levels of Fe. For substrates, Agaricus samples from Enugu exhibited the highest pollution levels, whereas oyster mushroom substrates showed higher contamination in Abia (Pb and Cd) and Ebonyi (Ni), followed by Anambra (Fe). Although most risk assessment results indicated non-contaminated to low contamination levels suggesting that the studied locations are relatively safe continuous monitoring of heavy metal concentrations in biological tissues is recommended to prevent long-term bioaccumulation.

Keywords

Heavy MetalsBioaccumulationMushroomsSubstrate ContaminationEnvironmental Pollution

References

Ab Rhaman, S. M. S., Naher, L., & Siddiquee, S. (2021). Mushroom quality related with various substrates’ bioaccumulation and translocation of heavy metals. Journal of Fungi, 8(1), 42. Abdullah, K. K., Fevzi, K., Hacer S., & Yasin, U. (2017). Mineral contents of some wild edible mushrooms. Journal of Fungus, 8(2), 178–183. Ain, S. N. U., Abbasi, A. M., Ajab, H., Khan, S., & Yaqub, A. (2023). Assessment of arsenic in Mangifera indica contaminated by artificial ripening agents: Target hazard quotient , health risk index , and estimated daily intake . Food Chemistry Advances, 3, 100468. Ali, M. M., Hossain, D., Khan, M. S., Begum, M., & Osman, M. H. (2021). Environmental pollution with heavy metals: A public health concern. In Heavy metals—Their environmental impacts and mitigation. IntechOpen. Ali, S., Vasudev, L., & Kumar, D. (2024). Mushrooms as bioindicators of environmental toxins. In Mushroom Magic (pp. 292–306). CRC Press. Ariyo, O. O. (2023). Edible mushrooms: Their impact on food security. FUOYE Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences, 8(2), 57–68. Asatiani, N., Kartvelishvili, T., Abuladze, M., Asanishvili, L., & Sapojnikova, N. (2011). Chromium (VI) can activate and impair antioxidant defense system. Biological Trace Element Research, 142(3), 388–397. Bisht, A., Kamboj, N., Kamboj, V., & Bisht, A. (2020). Emerging anthropogenic activities and environmental degradation. Archives of Agriculture and Environmental Science, 5(3), 419–425. Borovička, J., & Řanda, Z. (2007). Distribution of iron, cobalt, zinc and selenium in macrofungi. Mycological Progress, 6(4), 249–259. Borovička, J., Braeuer, S., Sácký, J., et al. (2019). Speciation analysis of elements accumulated in Cystoderma carcharias. Science of the Total Environment, 648, 1570–1581. Bucurica, I. A., Dulama, I. D., Radulescu, C., Banica, A. L., & Stanescu, S. G. (2024). Heavy metals and associated risks of wild edible mushrooms consumption. Journal of Fungi, 10(12), 844. Budi, H. S., Catalan Opulencia, M. J., Afra, A., et al. (2024). Source, toxicity and carcinogenic health risk assessment of heavy metals. Reviews on Environmental Health, 39(1), 77– 90. Chukwuka, K. S., Adesida, S. O., & Alimba, C. G. (2023). Carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks of metal-laden mushrooms in Nigeria. Environmental Analysis, Health and Toxicology, 38, e2023013. Das, K., Masud, M. A. A., Sarker, A., Arafa, R. A., & Patel, M. (2025). Sustainable remediation of heavy metals using microbes. Sustainability, 17(16), 7357. Dimopoulou, M., Kolonas, A., Mourtakos, S., Androutsos, O., & Gortzi, O. (2022). Nutritional composition and biological properties of edible mushrooms. Applied Sciences, 12(16), 8074. Dowlati, M., Sobhi, H. R., Esrafili, A., FarzadKia, M., & Yeganeh, M. (2021). Heavy metals in edible mushrooms: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Trends in Food Science & Technology, 109, 527–535. Ediriweera, A. N., Karunarathna, S. C., Yapa, P. N., et al. (2022). Ectomycorrhizal mushrooms as bioindicators. Agronomy, 12(5), 1041. Edo, G. I., Samuel, P. O., Oloni, G. O., et al. (2024). Environmental persistence and ecotoxicology of heavy metals. Chemistry and Ecology, 40(3), 322–349. Esmaeili, A., Shamaei, S., Aghaee, E. M., et al. (2022). Health risk assessment of heavy metals in mushrooms. Journal of Chemical Health Risks, 12(4). IIARD International Journal of Geography & Environmental Management Falandysz, J. (2018). Mineral constituents in Leccinum scabrum. Journal of Environmental Science and Health Part B, 53(8), 546–560. Ferreira, S. L., Cerda, V., Cunha, F. A., et al. (2023). Human health risk indices in food contamination studies. TrAC Trends in Analytical Chemistry, 167, 117281. Finlay, R. D., & Thorn, R. G. (2019). The fungi in soil. In Modern Soil Microbiology (3rd ed., pp. 65–90). Golian, M., Hegedűsová, A., Mezeyová, I., et al. (2021). Heavy metals in oyster mushroom fruiting bodies. Foods, 11(1), 76. Gwenzi, W., Tagwireyi, C., Musiyiwa, K., et al. (2021). Toxic elements in edible mushrooms in Africa. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 193(5), 302. Hamza, A., Mylarapu, A., Krishna, K. V., & Kumar, D. S. (2024). Nutritional and medicinal value of edible mushrooms. Journal of Biotechnology, 381, 86–99. Igbiri, S., Udowelle, N. A., Ekhator, O. C., et al. (2018). Heavy metals in mushrooms from the Niger Delta. Recent Patents on Food, Nutrition & Agriculture, 9(1), 31–41. Jagaba, A. H., Lawal, I. M., Birniwa, A. H., et al. (2024). Sources of water contamination by heavy metals. In Membrane technologies for heavy metal removal (pp. 3–27). CRC Press. Jadaa, W., & Mohammed, H. (2023). Heavy metals: Sources, toxicity, and removal. Journal of Ecological Engineering, 24(6), 249–271. Kalač, P. (2013). Chemical composition and nutritional value of mushrooms. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 93(2), 209–218. Khalef, R. N., Hassan, A. I., & Saleh, H. M. (2022). Environmental impact of heavy metals. In Environmental impact and remediation of heavy metals. IntechOpen. Liu, X., Lin, S., Deng, T., et al. (2025). Heavy metals in morel mushrooms. International Journal of Food Properties, 28(1). Mafe, A. N., Otieno, C. A., Edo, G. I., et al. (2025). Domestication and market potential of indigenous mushrooms. Discover Food, 5(1), 248. Malik, N. A., Kumar, J., Wani, M. S., et al. (2021). Role of mushrooms in soil bioremediation. In Microbiota and Biofertilizers (pp. 77–102). Springer. Monib, A. W., Niazi, P., Azizi, A., et al. (2024). Heavy metal contamination in urban soils. European Journal of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, 2(1), 546–565. Neenu, G., Ceasar, S. A., & Krishnakumar, N. M. (2026). Mushrooms as bioindicators of heavy metals. Environmental Quality Management, 35(4), e70348. Nnorom, I. C., Eze, S. O., & Ukaogo, P. O. (2020). Bioaccumulation in Nigerian mushrooms. Scientific African, 8, e00163. Ohiagu, F. O., Chikezie, P. C., Ahaneku, C. C., & Chikezie, C. M. (2022). Toxicity mechanisms of heavy metals. Materials Science & Engineering International Journal, 6(2), 78–87. Patel, V. K., Patel, D. K., Patel, A., et al. (2025). Heavy metal pollution and remediation approaches. International Journal, 9(11). Qin, G., Liu, J., Zou, K., et al. (2024). Heavy metal risks in edible mushrooms. Scientific Reports, 14, 26960. Sithole, S. C., Agboola, O. O., Mugivhisa, L. L., et al. (2022). Heavy metals in oyster mushrooms grown on polluted soils. Journal of King Saud University – Science, 34(2), 101763. Thachunglura, V. L., Rai, P. K., Chawngthu, Z., et al. (2025). Bioaccumulation in wild mushrooms. EQA – International Journal of Environmental Quality, 70, 66–75. Uddin, M., Zhang, D., Proshad, R., & Haque, M. K. (2020). Mycoremediation role of mushrooms. Chinese Journal of Applied Environmental Biology, 26(2), 460–468. Yadav, D., & Negi, P. S. (2021). Bioactive components of mushrooms. Food Research International, 148, 110599. IIARD International Journal of Geography & Environmental Management Yadav, P., Rai, S. N., Mishra, V., & Singh, M. P. (2021). Mycoremediation of pollutants. Environmental Sustainability, 4(4), 605–618.

More Articles from IIARD INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GEOGRAPHY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT