Background. Many companies in Nigeria generate industrial effluents, including heavy metals. These metals can be accumulated by biota such as mushrooms, which are then eaten by the populace. Objectives. The present study investigates the metal content of wild mushrooms in order to educate the local population on the safety of their consumption. Methods. Seven different species of wild mushrooms (Cortinarius melliolens, Chlorophyllum brunneum, Pleurotus florida, Volvariella speciosa, Cantharellus cibarius, Entoloma spp and Coprinus africana) growing in Ibadan, southwest Nigeria were analyzed for their heavy metal (copper (Cu), cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb)) contents using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Results. The concentrations of the heavy metals in the mushrooms and substrate varied by site of collection. The highest concentrations of Cu (92.31±8.42 mg/kg), Pb (76.00±9.78 mg/kg) and Cd (92.45±12.34 mg/kg) were obtained in C. africana, P. florida and V. speciosa, respectively. The lowest contents of Cu (56.00±5.02 mg/kg), and Cd (67.92±5.89 mg/kg) were obtained from C. melliolens, while C. cibarius had the lowest concentration of Pb (40.00±3.56 mg/kg). The highest concentrations of Pb (20.40±3.43 mg/kg) and Cd (26.40±4.34 mg/kg) were obtained in the substrate of C. molybdites, while the lowest Pb (12.40±2.12 mg/kg) and Cd (18.00±3.90 mg/kg) occurred in V. speciosa and C. cibarius, respectively. The bioaccumulation factors of the mushroom species studied ranged from 2.84 – 14.60. Conclusions. The present study found that heavy metal accumulation varied by species of mushroom, metal content of the substrate and the bioavailability of the metal in the mushroom. The level of metals in mushrooms in the present study was relatively high. Therefore, cultivation of mushrooms in heavy metal-free soil should be encouraged. Competing Interests. The authors declare no competing financial interests.
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