High cadmium and nickel contents in sunflower kernels.

High cadmium and nickel contents in sunflower kernels intended for human consumption are reported. The cadmium contents of 55 samples from North America and Europe were 0.25-0.69 mg/kg with averages from different countries of 0.32-0.54 mg/kg. The contents in kernels from bird seeds (i.e. animal feed) from China and Egypt were much lower. The cadmium content of sunflower kernels for human consumption might pose a risk to human health. Danish authorities recommend the Danish consumers do not eat large amounts of sunflower kernels for a long period of time. The nickel contents of 25 of the samples of kernels for human consumption were 2.3-5.3 mg/kg. This is comparable with that found in different kinds of nuts with high nickel contents.