Correlation between total and EDTA/DTPA-extractable trace elements in soiland wheat

Wheat and wheat products are more important sources of energy and nutrients in diets of people in many cultures compared to other foods. The daily con sumption of wheat is about 200 g/d/person in Western Europe and North Ameri ca. On the other hand, 400-450 g of wheat and wheat products are consumed d aily by average Turkish people. Wheat samples collected from the Iskenderun region in 1995 and 1996 and Ankara and Istanbul regions in 1995 were analy zed for their trace element content by instrumental neutron activation anal ysis (INAA). In addition, 13 soil samples were collected from the Iskenderu n region in 1996. Total soil samples were analyzed by INAA and atomic absor ption spectrometry (AAS), EDTA-extractable elements by INAA, and DTPA-extra ctable elements by AAS. Correlation analysis and enrichment factor calculat ions were applied to the trace element results. In wheat samples, a strong correlation was found between the elements such as Sc, La, Sm, Rb, and K wh ose main source is soil. The concentration of Se appeared to show larger va riations among different regions. No significant correlation was observed f or elements such as As and Se whose main sources in the atmosphere are anth ropogenic activities.