Inorganic arsenic levels in baby rice are of concern

Abstract

Median consumption of organic arsenic levels for UK babies from baby rice is above threshold considered safe. AbstractInorganic arsenic is a chronic exposure carcinogen. Analysis of UK baby rice revealed a median inorganic arsenic content (n ¼ 17) of 0.11 mg/kg. By plotting inorganic arsenic against total arsenic, it was found that inorganic concentrations increased linearly up to 0.25 mg/ kg total arsenic, then plateaued at 0.16 mg/kg at higher total arsenic concentrations. Inorganic arsenic intake by babies (4e12 months) was considered with respect to current dietary ingestion regulations. It was found that 35% of the baby rice samples analysed would be illegal for sale in China which has regulatory limit of 0.15 mg/kg inorganic arsenic. EU and US food regulations on arsenic are non-existent. When baby inorganic arsenic intake from rice was considered, median consumption (expressed as mg/kg/d) was higher than drinking water maximum exposures predicted for adults in these regions when water intake was expressed on a bodyweight basis.

Inorganic Arsenic in Rice Bran and Its Products Are an Order of Magnitude Higher than in Bulk Grain

“…"Health food" conscious consumers are also probably unaware that daily consumption of rice bran solubles is considerably increasing their inorganic arsenic exposure. The findings presented here, along with research into inorganic arsenic in rice milk (17) and baby rice (18) suggest that food standards should be set for inorganic arsenic.…”

“…The levels of MMA found in bran (0.014-0.04 mg/kg arsenic) were lower than the maximum found in Taiwanese milled rice (0.05 mg/kg arsenic). Like DMA, for which MMA is an intermediate plant and microbial metabolite (18), it is not known if the MMA was synthesized in planta, or assimilated directly from the soil.…”

“…Baby rice (precooked and milled rice) has high levels of inorganic arsenic, to such an extent that 35% of samples tested in the UK would be illegal for sale in China (18). China has a rice standard of 0.15 mg/kg inorganic arsenic, one of the few countries with modern food standards for arsenic and its species (18).…”

“…Baby rice (precooked and milled rice) has high levels of inorganic arsenic, to such an extent that 35% of samples tested in the UK would be illegal for sale in China (18). China has a rice standard of 0.15 mg/kg inorganic arsenic, one of the few countries with modern food standards for arsenic and its species (18). UK-purchased rice milk, a health food product (targeted at vegan, macrobiotic, lactose, and hormone avoidance diets) enzymatically extracted from rice (polished or whole grain), has inorganic arsenic levels generally in excess of the U.S. water standards of 0.01 mg/L, and all above the EU water limit of 0.01 mg/L total arsenic (19).…”

Exposure to inorganic arsenic from rice: A global health issue?

“…Infants and young children of all ethnicities generally have higher exposures to As i via rice than for adults when considered on a body mass basis (Meharg et al, 2008a). Research has shown the need for increased vigilance to As exposure during critical periods in children's development (Vahter, 2008), with resulting long term health and development issues arising from intrauterine and early childhood exposures to As i, often being undetectable at first only to manifest later in life (Vahter, 2008).…”