The lead content of 222 species of wild mushrooms, either edible or poisonous, was determined by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy. Altogether 494 samples, grown in rural regions of southern Germany, were tested. The lead content was between less than 2.0 and 40.4, on the average 10.6 mg/kg dry weight, equivalent to less than 0.1 and 3.0, on the average 1.06 mg/kg fresh weight.