Bioaccumulation of Hg in the mushroom Pleurotus ostreatus

Journal Article · Sat Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1988 · Ecotoxicol. Environ. Saf.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0147-6513(88)90020-6· OSTI ID:5985336

Bressa, G; Cima, L; Costa, P

The possibility of utilizing industrial, urban, and other wastes for the growth of a product which is directly edible by humans is fascinating. However, it is possible that many wastes containing toxic substances, for example, heavy metals, could reach the food chain and produce adverse effects on human health. To this end, we studied the possibility of bioaccumulation of Hg by a mushroom, Pleurotus ostreatus, grown on an artificial compost containing this element. Concentrations of 0.05, 0.1, and 0.2 mg/kg of Hg as Hg(NO/sub 3/)/sub 2/.H/sub 2/O were added to three groups of the same compost, successively inoculated with the mycelia of the mushroom. Higher concentrations strongly reduced the growth of the mycelia and therefore were not utilized. The concentrations of Hg in the substrate and in the mushroom were evaluated by AAS. The range of the accumulation factor was found to be 65-140, i.e., very marked. This finding suggests that the cultivation of P. ostreatus on substrates containing Hg from industrial and urban wastes could involve possible risks to human health.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Padua (Italy)
• OSTI ID: 5985336
• Journal Information: Ecotoxicol. Environ. Saf.; (United States), Vol. 16:2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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