Assessing inorganic arsenic in rice and its health risk to consumers in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Trace element contamination in rice and its potential health risks to consumers in North-Central Vietnam

Lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), chromium (Cr), and nickel (Ni) are poisonous, widely distributed, persistent, and transferable to crops, posing potential health risks. This study aims to assess the potential health risks of those elements in rice collected from North-Central Vietnam: Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, and Ha Tinh provinces. Element analysis was performed on rice harvested in November 2020 by ICP-MS. The estimated daily intake (EDI), target hazard quotient (THQ), non-carcinogenic hazard index (HI), and target carcinogenic risk (TR) were used to assess potential health risks for different population groups. The highest element levels (mg kg^-1 dry weight) were observed for Cr (0.30 ± 0.11), As (0.17 ± 0.025) and for Pb (0.24 ± 0.013) in Thanh Hoa, and for Cd (0.088 ± 0.015) in Ha Tinh. Strong links were observed between geological formations, mining activities and Cr in rice (Thanh Hoa), or industrial activities and Ni accumulation in rice (Hung Nguyen and Ky Anh districts). Children had greater EDIs than adults, with As having a higher EDI than RfD. Rice THQs indicated a risk trend: Thanh Hoa > Ha Tinh > Nghe An, with As being a significant contributor to HIs. Cr and Cd were significant risk factors and HIs in female children were 1.5 times higher than in other groups. Based on TR values for Ni and Pb, a potential carcinogenic risk to rice eaters was observed, particularly Ni. The data revealed a significant human health risk (both non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic) connected with rice consumption. Therefore, crops and foods from North-Central Vietnam should be strictly regulated.

Uncertainty and sensitivity analyses of human health risk from bioaccessible arsenic exposure via rice ingestion in Bangkok, Thailand

BACKGROUND

Rice can be a source of arsenic (As) exposure, causing health impacts after ingestion.

OBJECTIVE

This study analyzed health risks due to As exposure through rice consumption, focusing on both bioaccessible (bAs) and total (tAs) As levels.

METHODS

Monte Carlo simulations were applied to determine health risk uncertainties and to analyze factors influencing health risks.

RESULTS

Cooked white and brown rice contained lower tAs and bAs than FAO/WHO standards of 0.20 and 0.35 mg/kg, respectively. As became less bioaccessible after cooking (14.0% in white rice and 18.5% in brown rice). Non-carcinogenic effects (MOS < 1) were found in 5% of children. Carcinogenic effects (MOE<100), especially lung cancer, were found in 75% of adults, with a probable incidence of 7 in 1,000,000. The lowest and highest annual cancer cases were 18 in 10,000,000 adolescents and 15 in 1,000,000 adults, respectively. The risks were mainly affected by body weight and bAs concentration.

SIGNIFICANCE

The results identified a certain risk level of non-carcinogenic effects in children and adolescents as well as carcinogenic effects in adults. The per capita consumption of rice in Thai adults should be reduced to prevent incidences of lung cancer.