Evaluation of heavy metal concentration in compost, soil cover and button mushroom in Kurdistan greenhouses

Heavy metal pollution is among the major problems of environmental and food safety concerns. This study investigated the concentration of heavy metals i. e., arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) in mushroom crops produced in Kurdistan greenhouses. For this purpose, compost, mushroom crop and soil of four greenhouses with five repetitions for each sample were obtained. A total number of 60 sample was analyzed. The samples were digested using acid digestion method and the concentrations of the metals were determined by atomic emission technique. According to the results, average As concentrations in mushroom was estimated at 89.742 mg/kg, Cd 0.32 mg/kg, Cu 48.868 mg/kg, Pb 3.152 mg/kg and Zn 24.072 mg/kg. The findings showed that the mean concentrations of As, Pb and Cu in all mushroom samples were higher than WHO standards (0.5, 2 and 40 mg/kg for As, Cu and Pb, respectively). However, the concentrations of Zn and Cd in the mushroom samples were in the acceptable limit. Data showed that except for As, the concentrations of all elements in soil and compost samples were lower than the EPA standard. It was concluded that excessive application of chemical fertilizers had resulted in the increasing of heavy metal concentrations in the soil, compost and mushroom crops produced in Kurdistan greenhouses.