Exposed: Health Risks From Arsenic In Rice

High levels of arsenic in rice is associated with elevated genetic damage in humans, according to new research.

Asian Scientist (Jul. 30, 2013) – High levels of arsenic in rice is associated with elevated genetic damage in humans, according to new research.

Over the last few years, researchers have reported high concentrations of arsenic in several rice-growing regions around the world.

Now, researchers from India and the UK have found a link between rice containing high levels of arsenic and chromosomal damage in the tissues of people consuming rice as a staple.

In their study, published in Scientific Reports, the researchers looked at the frequency of micronuclei, a tell-tale sign of chromosomal damage, by screening more than 400,000 individual cells extracted from urine samples from volunteers.

The researchers discovered that people in rural West Bengal eating rice as a staple with greater than 0.2 mg/kg arsenic showed higher frequencies of micronuclei than those consuming rice with less than this concentration of arsenic.

The team chose a study population with relatively similar dietary and socio-economic status that was not otherwise exposed to arsenic, for example, through drinking water.

They demonstrated that the trend of greater genetic damage with increasing arsenic in rice was observed for both men and women, for tobacco-users and non-users, and for those from three different locations within the study area.

The pattern observed was broadly similar to that previously seen for people exposed to arsenic through drinking high arsenic well waters, which has caused devastating health impacts, including cancers, in many parts of the world.

According to the authors, their work raises considerable concerns about health impacts of consuming high arsenic rice as a staple, particularly by people with relatively poor nutritional status – perhaps as many as a few hundred million people.

Professor David Polya, a leader of the team, said: “Although concerns about arsenic in rice have been raised for some time now, to our knowledge, this is the first time a link between consumption of arsenic-bearing rice and genetic damage has been demonstrated.”

“As such, it vindicates increasing concerns expressed by the European Food Safety Authority and others about the adequacy of regulation of arsenic in rice.”

Dr Ashok K Giri, another leader of the team added:

“One CSIR institute in India has already identified a number of Indian rice varieties which accumulate lower concentrations of arsenic, so we can easily address future human health risks with proper mitigation strategies.”

“Results of this study will not only help to understand the toxic effects caused by this human carcinogen but also these results will help the scientists and regulatory authorities to design further extensive research to set improved regulatory values for arsenic in rice, particularly for those billions of people who consume 10 to 50 percent rice in their daily diet.”

The article can be found at: Banerjee et al. (2013) High Arsenic In Rice Is Associated With Elevated Genotoxic Effects In Humans.

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Source: University of Manchester; Photo: sarae/Flickr.
Disclaimer: This article does not necessarily reflect the views of AsianScientist or its staff.

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