Global Market and Field Studies of Arsenic Accumulation in Rice

Abstract

Arsenic (As) is a ubiquitous and naturally occurring metalloid that poses significant carcinogenic and noncarcinogenic health risks to human. Apart from drinking water, food is the other major source of As exposure for humans. A principal source of As in diet for the general population living in the non-As endemic areas is rice. Rice is a staple food for the global population. The annual rice consumption per capita has been increasing over time. The issue of As accumulation in rice and its potential health impacts have become a global public health concern for several decades, as the rice consumption per capita is normally high and As is classified as group 1 carcinogen. Therefore, the Codex Alimentarius Commission, the Joint Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, and the World Health Organization (WHO) food standards program have established the maximum allowance level of As, especially inorganic As, in rice grain. This chapter draws attention to the most updated data on the total and inorganic As concentrations in the most popular types of rice sold in the markets of all the world regions. The bioaccessible As concentrations were also reported in this chapter, as this fraction is believed to represent the amount of As that is actually taken up by the human body. Furthermore, considerable attention is given to the field studies of As in rice grain which were cultivated in the As-contaminated areas.