The concentrations of copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) in samples of some cereals available at
local markets in Syria weredetermined, after nitric digestion, using Atomic Absorption
Spectrometry. The study showed that the heavy metals were present in all
samples at different
levels. The concentration of heavy metals varied from trace to higher concentration.
The maximum level of copper (Cu) in the cereal samples was 0.426 mg kg-1 on dry
weight basis, where the maximum level of zinc (Zn) in the cereal samples was 2.325mg mg kg-
1 on dry weight basis. The analytical results obtained for the heavy metals indicate that the
copper and zinc were present in all samples at concentration well below the acceptable
concentration recommended by the World Health Organization.
