Abstract

Heavy metal contamination of agricultural soils and subsequent accumulation of these metals in plants is a growing interest. In this work heavy metal and selected micronutrient content (Cd, B, Al, Co, Cu, Mo, Ni, Zn, Fe, Mn, Pb and Cr) in twenty -one different hempseed samples collected from north - western Turkey was monitored. The quantitative measurements were carried out with inductively - coupled plasma (ICP-OES). The content of Pb and Cr was below the detectable levels in all the seed samples. Cadmium content of the hempseeds was found within the range of 5 - 23 mgkg^-1. Of the monitored trace elements, the highest concentration found was of iron (98 -121 mgkg^-1) followed by manganese (70 -102 mgkg^-1) and zinc (46 - 72 mgkg^-1). On the other hand, the lowest concentration found was of cobalt (0.06 - 0.17 mgkg^-1) followed by molybdenum (0.25 - 0.62 mgkg^-1) and nickel (0.55 - 1.66 mgkg^-1). The results of the present study reveal that heavy metal contents of the hempseeds from North-western Turkey are well below the critical levels established for safe human consumption. On the other hand, selected micronutrient profile obtained in this study also shows that hempseeds appears be a potentially valuable food source for human nutrition.

Key words: Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.), trace elements, nutrition, food source, toxicity.