Feeding is the main route for trace elements intake. The amount of trace elements in the food ingested may result in a loss or accumulation of trace elements in different body tissues. The possible distribution of essential (chromium, manganese, copper, selenium and zinc) and toxic (cadmium) elements from the environment to the maize plant was evaluated in this study. Furthermore, their transfer from irrigation water, soil water, soil, corn plant, corn grain, and especially to corn flour was estimated. Sampling was conducted during the cropping season in two areas in Italy and the concentrations in different matrices have been compared to exclude differences related to irrigation and to assess element accumulation. The concentration of metals was lower in flour than in the grain; the processes of grinding led to an almost total loss of copper, cadmium, chromium and selenium, to a loss of more than 50% of zinc and of most of the manganese content.
