Heavy Metal Toxicity in Rice and its Effects on Human Health

Abstract

Nowadays, rice is the staple food grain of billions of people worldwide. The scientific name of rice is Oryza sativa L. There are four types of rice found in all over the world. Heavy metals, such as arsenic, cadmium, lead, iron, etc. are also found in rice, which causes harmful effects in the human body. Recently, rice has also been identified as a major exposure route. Rice is the most important grain concerning human nutrition and calorie intake, providing more than one-fifth calories consumed worldwide by humans. Acute toxic effects of rice are lower risk of heart disease, diabetes, possibly stroke, obesity, etc. and the side effects of rice are swelling around the drip site, hearing changes, liver changes, sore mouth, diarrhea, flushing of the face, changes in blood pressure, etc.