Risk of Chickpea (Cicer Arietinum L.) Contamination by Risk Metals from the Soil of Iraq

The aim was to evaluate the influence of the grown locality on risky metal intake from the soil to the chickpea seeds. The research was realised in three different localities of Iraq (Harer, Erbil, Ankawa) using the same chicpea cultivar. In all soil samples the determined total content of Co, Ni, Cr, and Cd exceeded the limit values (by 45% - 87%, 196% - 302%, 57% - 132% and 500% - 810%, respectively). In one locality (Harer) also the Cu content by 2% exceeded maximal allowed value given by the legislative. In all sample sites also the maximal available soil content of mobile Pb forms was by 5% - 265% exceeded. Despite of extremely high soil contents of Co, Ni, and Cr the investigated chickpea seeds are from the point of these risky metal contamination safe. All determined values of heavy metal contents are lower than hygienic limits. Only Cd and Pb amounts in seeds of chickpea from Iraq exceeded the limit value given by legislative. Based on our results we could suppose that chickpea can be risky food if it is grown in the soil with enhanced amounts of Pb and Cd.