The aim of the study was to estimate the levels of trace elements in the grain and straw of bread cereals (wheat and rye) cultivated in Lower Silesia. 848 samples of grain and 680 samples of straw were analysed to determine cadmium, chromium, copper, iron, manganese, nickel, lead and zinc contents. The percentage of grain contaminated with heavy metals varied between subregions and was the following: the Legnica subregion – 11.4%, the Jelenia Góra-Wałbrzych subregion – about 10.2%, and the Wrocław subregion – about 2.3%. The sources of grain contamination in the Lower Silesia province were: cadmium (42%), lead (34%), and zinc (24%). About 2.2% of the straw tested is unsuitable for fodder utilisation because of an excessive cadmium content. The straw contaminated with cadmium comes mostly from the Jelenia Góra-Wałbrzych subregion. It follows from the results that about 10% of the grain of bread cereals cultivated in Lower Silesia will be unfit for human consumption owing to its excessive levels of trace elements. Instead, that grain can be utilised as fodder.

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