Spatial Variation in Cd, Pb, Hg, and Zn Accumulation in Edible Wild-Growing Mushroom Species from Different Environmentally Loaded Areas in Southern Poland: Risk Assessment and Implications for Consumer Safety

The uptake and accumulation of heavy metals by wild-grown mushrooms is raising health concerns for consumers worldwide with respect to variability conditioned by species and harvesting site specificity. This study aims to evaluate the concentration of elements (Zn) and heavy metals (Cd, Pb, Hg) in wild-growing edible mushroom samples (n = 200) collected from industrial and non-industrial areas in Poland. Over half of the analyzed mushroom samples (51%) exceeded EU limits for Cd, Pb, or Hg. Xerocomellus chrysenteron and X. subtomentosus (XCS) showed the highest accumulation, with median Cd and Pb concentrations of 3.53 mg/kg and 0.63 mg/kg fresh mass, respectively, in industrial areas. Spatial factors, including distance from emission sources and wind direction, significantly influenced element accumulation, with Cd levels in XCS up to 20 times higher than in Suillus species. A high-consumption scenario (96 g/day) indicated a substantial non-carcinogenic risk (HQ > 1) from Cd exposure via XCS consumption, both in industrial (HQ up to 9.01) and non-industrial areas (HQ max = 1.80), with cumulative hazard index (HI) ranging from 1.21 to 11.01. It is imperative to select the optimal regions for mushroom harvesting and to refrain from consuming species that accumulate elements to the greatest extent.