ABSTRACT. The grain of spring wheat and the soils of the Orenburg region of 28 districts were analyzed by atomic absorption method for toxic elements. The coefficient of biological absorption of heavy metals by wheat was calculated. The coefficient of biological absorption in the Gaysky district is for: zinc 35 ± 5, copper 59 ± 5, lead 0.11 ± 0.05, nickel 0.8 ± 0.1, manganese 2.2 ± 0.5, cadmium 0.19 ± 0.05; in the Orenburg region for: zinc 36 ± 5, copper 28 ± 5, lead 0.27 ± 0.05, nickel 0.75 ± 0.1, manganese 1.1 ± 0.5, cadmium 0.20 ± 0.05; in the Tashli district for: zinc 41 ± 5, copper 27 ± 5, lead 0.35 ± 0.05, nickel 0.5 ± 0.1, manganese 1.1 ± 0.5, cadmium 0.26 ± 0.05. The soils of the Tashli district are characterized by the lowest content of heavy metals, with the exception of manganese and cadmium. The correlation coefficient of the content of elements in grain and soil: for the Gaysky district is 0.78, for the Orenburg region – 0.76, for the Tashlinsky – 0.81 (with a significance level of p < 0.05).
KEYWORDS: soil, heavy metals, cereals, grain, wheat.