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Level of Arsenic in rice: the effects of cooking - literature review

Project Code: C01045

28/05/2007

University of Aberdeen
Meharg, A

A number of studies indicate, that in countries not suffering from high levels of arsenic in drinking water, that rice is a major contributor to inorganic arsenic in human diets1-6. Although seafood is known to be high in total arsenic, the inorganic component is small3,7. Rice on the other hand has a high proportion of inorganic arsenic3,8-12, and rice is particularly susceptible to assimilating arsenic into its grain13.

This report sets out to assess the importance of arsenic in rice, particularly its inorganic component, to dietary arsenic intakes in a UK context. This involved considering the inorganic and total arsenic levels in UK available rice, the quantities of rice consumed by UK subpopulations (particularly those with high rice consumption rates), and placing this data into the context of the health risks posed by chronic inorganic arsenic exposure from rice.

Having considered the available information, the focus of future studies into arsenic in rice in a UK context is suggested.

FInal Report

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