1. Inorganic arsenic levels in baby rice are of concern
- Author
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Meharg, Andrew A., Sun, Guoxin, Williams, Paul N., Adomako, Eureka, Deacon, Claire, Zhu, Yong-Guan, Feldmann, Joerg, and Raab, Andrea
- Subjects
ARSENIC & the environment ,RICE ,BABY foods ,CARCINOGENS ,DIETARY laws ,ARSENIC content of drinking water ,EVALUATION - Abstract
Inorganic arsenic is a chronic exposure carcinogen. Analysis of UK baby rice revealed a median inorganic arsenic content (n =17) of 0.11mg/kg. By plotting inorganic arsenic against total arsenic, it was found that inorganic concentrations increased linearly up to 0.25mg/kg total arsenic, then plateaued at 0.16mg/kg at higher total arsenic concentrations. Inorganic arsenic intake by babies (4–12 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 0.15mg/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 μg/kg/d) was higher than drinking water maximum exposures predicted for adults in these regions when water intake was expressed on a bodyweight basis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]
- Published
- 2008
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