Pesticide Residues in Edible Mushrooms: A Health Hazard?

Pesticide residues in edible mushrooms are receiving more attention. Herein, sixty-two pesticide residues in edible mushrooms were analyzed, and chronic, acute, and cumulative dietary exposure risks were assessed. As a whole, 15 pesticides were identified, and nearly 20% of the samples contained one or more pesticide residues. The fungicide carbendazim was the most frequently detected pesticide, with a detection rate reaching 6.73%. Among different varieties, maximum residue limits (MRLs) were exceeded in 20% of A. bisporus samples for emamectin-benzoate and in 11.6% of A. blazei Murill samples for carbofuran. The risk assessment results revealed that exposure to pesticide residues in edible mushrooms did not pose an unacceptable health risk, even in the worst-case scenario. But combined with the results of many unregistered pesticide residues, multiple pesticide residues, and pesticide residues exceeding MRLs occurred in some samples, appropriate management guidelines on the pesticide use for edible mushroom cultivation are urgent.