Major and trace elements Content in Cannabis Sativa–L cultivated in North of Morocco and Heavy metals health risk assessment

Abstract

The primary objective of this study was to assess the variation in the elemental composition of Cannabis Sativa seeds cultivated in Northern Morocco and to evaluate potential health risks associated with heavy metals (Cr, Cd, Pb, Ni, and As). We employed Inductively Coupled Plasma–Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) to identify and quantify both macro and trace elements in three seed samples. Our analysis revealed the presence of 20 elements in Cannabis seeds, with Mg, K, Ca, P, and Na present in substantial concentrations, while Cr, Zn, Fe, and other toxic elements were detected in trace amounts. Estimations of daily intake (EDI) indicated that Cr had the highest intake, followed by Ni, Pb, As, and Cd. However, Target Hazard Quotients (THQs) for individual metals and the Hazard Index (HI) all remained below 1, suggesting a relatively low risk associated with the consumption of Cannabis Sativa seeds from Northern Morocco. Furthermore, Carcinogenic Risk (CR) values were found to be at a tolerable level. In conclusion, our results suggest that the consumption of Cannabis Sativa seeds from this region poses minimal health risks."