Wild macrofungi as bioindicators of persistent organic pollutants (PCBs, NPAHs, and PAHs) in urban and natural environments

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs), in particular polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), their nitro derivatives (NPAHs), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), pose a major environmental and public health challenge worldwide. Our study evaluated the content of PAHs, NPAHs, and PCBs in eight common, wild macrofungal species collected from urban (Kamenički and Dunavski parks) and natural (Fruška Gora Mt.) environments in Northern Serbia. Among analyzed species, the edible Laetiporus sulphureus (Bull.) Murrill 1920 exhibited the highest total concentrations of Σ₁₅PAHs (837.97 ± 11.49 ng g^-1 dry weight, DW), Σ₆NPAHs (166.99 ± 4.51 ng g^-1 DW), and Σ₁₀PCBs (265.27 ± 0.32 ng g^-1 DW), followed closely by Auricularia mesenterica (Dicks.) Pers. 1822 (Σ₁₅PAHs: 725.42 ± 16.02 ng g^-1 DW; Σ₆NPAHs: 160.63 ± 14.82 ng g^-1 DW, Σ₁₀PCBs: 214.28 ± 22.56 ng g^-1 DW), both species from Kamenički park. High-molecular-weight PAHs such as dibenz[a,h]anthracene and benzo[ghi]perylene were dominant across most species most inspected species, while 6-nitrobenzo[a]pyrene was the most prevalent NPAH. PCBs showed species- and congener-specific adsorption patterns, with the highest concentrations detected in L. sulphureus and Stereum subtomentosum Pouzar 1964. Overall, variation in pollutant levels strongly depended on the locality and species-specific traits. In conclusion, this study provides novel evidence that wild macrofungi, from urban areas, may represent powerful accumulators of PAHs, NPAHs, and PCBs, offering important insights into environmental pollution monitoring and potential food safety risks.