Is arsenic in rice something to worry about? What I Know – National

Whether you're enjoying sushi, feeding baby rice cereals, or indulging in rice pudding, it's easy to see why rice is one of the most popular staples in the world.

However, new research shows that this beloved grain can be contaminated with arsenic. This is a toxic component associated with severe health risks such as brain development delays, cancer, and heart disease.

This is because rice has a unique ability to absorb arsenic and can level 10 times higher than what you see in other grains like wheat. The way rice is grown plays a major role. When it is grown in flooded fields, flooded soil makes plants more melt and plants easier, studies show.

However, arsenic is a naturally occurring mineral found in soil and water. This means it could end up with a wide range of foods, including apples, Brussels sprouts and even drinking water from some areas.

So, if it's in a lot of food, is that so bad for you?

“In rice and water, arsenic is in the inorganic form. Inorganic arsenic is a toxic chemical,” explained Molly Kill, an environmental epidemiologist at Oregon State University.

“But overall, the harm it can cause to human health depends on how long a person has been exposed to, and therefore the amount and duration of exposure of inorganic arsenic that will experience how much of the risk it will bring to health.”

Long-term exposure to inorganic arsenic is at increased risk for several serious health issues, including skin, bladder, lung cancer, and cancers such as type 2 diabetes and preterm birth, she said.

Health Canada and Cancer Research Institute classify arsenic as the substance responsible for cancer. However, its toxicity depends on the type. Inorganic arsenic is the most concerning form of human health, with water and rice being more common than fruit.

“Inorganic arsenic has a greater interest in human health than in the organic form of arsenic. Long-term exposure to very high levels of inorganic arsenic (for many years or decades) is associated with an increased risk of cancer and other adverse health effects.”

However, unlike the US, Canada has enforceable restrictions on how much inorganic arsenic can exist in the rice sold to consumers. For example, white rice can contain no more than 0.2 parts (ppm) of inorganic arsenic, while brown rice can have a maximum of 0.35 ppm.

According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, a portion of every billion (PPB) (PPB) is like a drop of water in a swimming pool.

So when we talk about 0.2 ppm, it corresponds to about 200 drops of arsenic spread over the same pool. At 0.35 ppm, you can draw about 350 drops of arsenic in the pool.

The US Food and Drug Administration regulates the levels of inorganic arsenic found in infant rice cereals, reducing the levels of arsenic allowed at 100 ppb. Health Canada regulates arsenic in infant grains at the same level.

Given the toxicity of arsenic, it seems like small amounts, but even these small amounts are especially important for babies, Kill said.

“When both infants and adults eat the same rice containing 10 ppb of arsenic, infants receive three times the weight of an adult's weight. That's one of the reasons why young children are vulnerable to arsenic.

A new report published by Healthy Babies Bright Futures (HBBF), a nonprofit based in the US, found that rice sold in the US contains high levels of arsenic.

In a recent report, HBBF tested 145 rice samples from a variety of US retailers, including both domestic and imported types. The findings revealed that arsenic is present in 100% of the samples, with more than a quarter exceeding the federal limit set of infant grains.

Brown rice, which was grown in the southeastern United States or labeled as “grown in the United States,” contained the highest average levels of heavy metals, the report said.

The reason brown rice has so much arsenic is that when it is present in the soil and water, it accumulates in the outer layer of the rice grains (the layer that brown rice keeps intact).

“This outer layer is removed to make white rice during processing. These outer layers are retained in brown rice. Therefore, brown rice has more nutrients and fiber, which is suitable for you, but it also has more inorganic arsenic than white rice.

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The report also found that alternative grains such as quinoa, couscous and barley had significantly lower total heavy metal contamination than rice. Although riqueapping rice is convenient, it adds that there is a potential risk from the unusually toxic form of arsenic.

“Four toxic heavy metals have been discovered: arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury. Each contaminant has different health effects, but can contribute to serious risks such as cancer, developmental damage including loss of IQ, and accumulation within the body.

In addition to these concerns, research into health on the Lancet Planet has warned that rising carbon dioxide levels and temperatures caused by climate change are an increase in arsenic levels in the rice, posing chronic health risks, especially in areas that rely heavily on rice.

A study in risk analysis in February also found that Americans who eat brown rice regularly have a higher exposure to arsenic. Young children are particularly vulnerable as they consume more food than their weight.

While arsenic levels in foods sold in Canada are generally low, Health Canada said there are ways to reduce exposure through food.

You can start by eating a variety of healthy foods every day. This includes switching whole grains. Don't rely solely on rice. Try incorporating options like oats, barley, quinoa, whole wheat and more.

Cooking rice will help remove some of the arsenic by using excess water (at least 6 parts of water to the rice) and subsequently draining it, Health Canada said.

It is important for babies and young children to provide a wide range of nutritious first foods. If you are using iron-fortified infant cereal, choose a version made with different grains, not just rice. Health Canada also advises using rice-based drinks as a milk substitute for children under the age of 2.

Kyle repeated this advice.

“The good news is that there are steps that can be proven that people will be less exposed. Eat different meals, cook and drain rice with water. Drain it like pasta.

“Arsenic can naturally occur in groundwater at much higher levels than rice. Testing is the only way to know if it is present in well water.”

Rice could still be part of a healthy diet, she said, because it is a nutritious staple. But switch it off and always try to rinse your rice before cooking.

“That way you will get the benefits of rice while lowering the potential risks poses from arsenic,” she said.