Heavy metal determination and health risk assessment of edible mushrooms collected from selected market in Kelantan, Malaysia using atomic absorption spectrometer (AAS)

Edible mushroom is a fungus that is used as food and medicine with high protein and is widely consumed by humans in daily life, especially in Asia. Despite high protein, edible mushrooms have the potential for accumulating heavy metals. Heavy metal concentration in edible mushrooms can give a negative effect on human health. Furthermore, edible mushrooms can be contaminated by heavy metals from the soil and environment. The aim of this research is to determine the heavy metal extraction (Zn, Pb, Cu, and Cd) in four different samples of edible mushroom species (Pleurotus ostreatus, Lentinus edodes, Agaricus bisporus, and Flammulina velutipes) that were purchased from selected markets in Kelantan. The heavy metal was determined by Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS) and the result was compared to the permissible level by WHO/FAO. Besides, the human health risk was assessed through target hazard quotient (THQ), hazard index (HI), estimated weekly intake (EWI), and provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI). The average heavy metals concentrations in four edible mushroom species were found to be in the descending order where Zn > Cu > Pb > Cd. Furthermore, the average THQ for Zn, Pb, Cd, and Cu was 6.413 × 10-5, 5.877 × 10-4, 3.05 × 10-4 and 6.55 × 10-5, respectively, whereas, EWI were found do not exceed the PTWI. There is no significant risk because HI values are less than 1 which is 0.001. Based on the results, we can conclude that the analysed edible mushroom species do not pose a health risk to humans when consumed for a long term due to the relatively low present heavy metals concentration in the investigated mushroom.