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Occurrence, behavior, and human exposure and health risks of potentially toxic elements in edible mushrooms with focus on Africa

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Abstract

Understanding the occurrence, behavior, and fate of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in the substrate-mushroom-human nexus is critical for assessing and mitigating their human health risks. In this review, we (1) summarized the nature, sources, and biogeochemical behavior of PTEs in the substrate-mushroom systems; (2) discussed the occurrence, exposure, and human health risks of PTEs in mushrooms with emphasis on African geological hotspots such as metalliferous and highly mineralized substrates; (3) developed a 10-step conceptual framework for identifying, assessing, and mitigating the human health risks of PTEs in mushrooms, and highlight future directions. High human exposure risks potentially exist in Africa due to the following: (1) widespread consumption of mushrooms from various metalliferrous and highly mineralized substrates such as serpentines and mine waste dumps, (2) inadequate and poorly enforced environmental health and food safety regulations and policies, (3) limited environmental and human health monitoring data, and (4) potential synergistic interactions among PTEs in mushrooms and human health stressors such as a high burden of human diseases and infections. Although the human health effects of individual PTEs are well known, scientific evidence linking human health risk to PTEs in mushrooms remains weak. A framework for risk assessment and mitigation, and future research directions are recommended.

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Fig. 1
Fig. 2

source-substrate-mushroom system

Fig. 3

adapted from Ma et al., (2016) and Mishra et al., (2017))

Fig. 4

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Data availability

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the British Ecological Society (BES) Ecologists in Africa Grant No. 5774-6818 for funding WG on a related project which motivated this work, “The Potential of Native Plants of the Ultramafic Great Dyke of Zimbabwe for the Phytoremediation and Restoration of Metalliferrous Mine Wastes.” However, BES played no role in the research process and decision to publish the work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biosystems and Environmental Engineering Research Group, Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Engineering, University of Zimbabwe, P.O. Box MP167, Mt. Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe

    Willis Gwenzi

  2. Formerly with Environmental Sciences Institute, Scientific & Industrial Research & Development Centre, Alpes Road/Technology Drive, Hatcliffe, P. O. Box 6640, Harare, Zimbabwe

    Caroline Tagwireyi

  3. Department of Crop Science and Post-Harvest Technology, School of Agricultural Sciences, Chinhoyi University of Technology, Private Bag 7724, Chinhoyi, Zimbabwe

    Kumbirai Musiyiwa

  4. Department of Food, Nutrition and Family Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, P.O. Box MP167, Mt. Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe

    Batsirai Chipurura

  5. Department of Environmental Science and Technology, Marondera University of Agricultural Science and Technology, P. O. Box 35,, Marondera, Zimbabwe

    Justice Nyamangara

  6. Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology, Shantou University, Shantou, Guangdong Province, China

    Edmond Sanganyado

  7. Department of Physical and Earth Sciences, Sol Plaatje University, Kimberley, South Africa

    Nhamo Chaukura

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WG conceptualized the idea, designed research, analyzed data, and drafted and finalized the manuscript. Other authors contributed equally to research design, data analysis, and draft manuscript compilation.

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Gwenzi, W., Tagwireyi, C., Musiyiwa, K. et al. Occurrence, behavior, and human exposure and health risks of potentially toxic elements in edible mushrooms with focus on Africa. Environ Monit Assess 193, 302 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-021-09042-w

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