Metal content profiles in mushrooms collected in primary forests of Latin America

Ecotoxicology and environmental safety concerns suggested estimation of the content of 14 metals-some of them highly toxic, such as cadmium, mercury, and lead-in 26 mushrooms species (Basidiomycetes and Ascomycetes). The fung i-members of different genera-were collected during two periods, 1967-1969 and 1978-1981, in primary forests of Latin America (mainly French Guyana an d a few samples from Colombia and Costa Rica), these areas are non- or slig htly inhabited, therefore, industrial pollution has to be considered as tot ally nonexistent. Heavy metals, selectively concentrated in specific living organisms, should be regarded as toxin-like substances, taking into accoun t the bioaccumulation sites (mushrooms) and the noxious activity toward var ious organs of mammals (i.e., central nervous system, kidneys, liver, etc.) . The levels and distribution of the metals in the samples are given and co mpared. Most surprisingly, contents are not especially contrasted with thos e found in mushrooms collected in European urban areas, such as the Paris r egion; cadmium, lead, and mercury levels are of the same order of magnitude .