Abstract: A total of 120 samples of rough rice were collected from 6 main rice cultivation areas in China for analysis of content and distribution of Cd and Pb in the grains using atomic absorption spectrometry. Results show that the average Cd content in rough rice, milled rice, rice bran and rice bran oil was (0.116 ± 0.057), (0.089 ± 0.413), (0.149 ± 0.069), and (0.111 ± 0.043) mg•kg^-1, respectively,and that the six main rice cultivation areas followed a descending order of Central China,South  China,North China,Northwest China, Northeast China,and Southwest China in Cd content in rough rice and its processed products. The results also show that the average Pb content in rough rice, milled rice, rice bran and rice bran oil was (0.232 ± 0.105), (0.125 ± 0.061), (0.301 ± 0.142) and (0.089 ± 0.024) mg•kg^-1, respectively, and that the six areas followed an order of Central China ,South China,Northwest China,North China ,Northeast China ,and Southwest China in Pb content in rough rice and its processed products. In terms of average Cd content, rice bran came first and was then followed by rough rice, rice bran oil and milled rice in sequence, while in terms of Pb content, rice bran was still the first and was then followed by rough rice, milled rice and rice bran oil. The processing of rough rice into milled rice removed (9.40 ± 1.46)% Cd and (36.03 ± 1.15)% Pb, and the processing of rice bran into rice bran oil left (62.43 ± 2.00)% Cd and (31.24 ± 0.63)% Pb in the latter.

Key words: rice, heavy mental, rice bran oil, main rice yield area, Cd, Pb