mycelium concentrating heavy metals

[milkmandan]

not sure if this is the right subforum for this. trying to find one that members keep up with. move this if need be stoney.

Got a friend that does outdoor beds of wood lovers. He can give me spores so I can have a go. Question:

I want to create mulch beds, they would be 100ft behind an 8ft fence, which in turn is 150ft away from a major street in a big city. We're talking 10-20k cars per day. Less than a mile or two from 3 major highways also. So the soil (behind a fence for what that's worth) has been collecting heavy metals for 30+ years. We've all heard of mycelium collecting and concentrating toxins yada yada yada.

1. Is this concentrating effect over hyped?
2. Is there any way to carry out my plan safely? I was thinking have the beds covered (so no further accumulation) and maybe dispose of the first crop or two, or give away to some kindergartners . Then the ground will be clean of heavy metals and it won't get anymore in it.
3. Do I need to worry about any other magic plants, fruit plants, magic cacti, edible cacti, grafting cacti, etc. collecting heavy metals?

Thoughts?

[dendro]

I can't say anything about concentrating metals. But you might just dig the bed, remove the dirt and maybe line the hole with some kind of barrier, then fill with new substrate. Might even want to cover with a roof or plastic tent to keep our rain etc., keep radioactive rain out too.

Highly urban area, maybe not the best place for an outdoor bed. Tubs might be safer.

[Stonehenge]

Where are you going to find substrate that has never been exposed to the environment? Nowhere. I do not believe shrooms concentrate heavy metals, they would have no reason to do so. There are tiny parts per billion of all heavy metals in everything we eat, drink, or breath.