Poisoning associated with the use of mushrooms: A review of the global pattern and main characteristics

Worldwide, special attention has been paid to wild mushrooms-induced poisoning. This review article provides a report on the global pattern and characteristics of mushroom poisoning and identifies the magnitude of mortality induced by mushroom poisoning. In this work, reasons underlying mushrooms-induced poisoning, and contamination of edible mushrooms by heavy metals and radionuclides, are provided. Moreover, a perspective of factors affecting the clinical signs of such toxicities (e.g. consumed species, the amount of eaten mushroom, season, geographical location, method of preparation, and individual response to toxins) as well as mushroom toxins and approaches suggested to protect humans against mushroom poisoning, are presented.