Whether you appreciate sushi, feed your baby rice cereals or indulge in a coat of rice, it is easy to see why rice is one of the most popular staples around the world.
But emerging research shows that this beloved grain can be contaminated by arsenic – A toxic element linked to serious health risks, in particular brain development delays, cancer and heart disease.
Indeed, rice has a unique ability to absorb arsenic, strengthening levels that can be 10 times higher than what is in other grains such as wheat. The way rice is cultivated plays a big role: when cultivated in flooded fields, the soil full of water makes the arsenic more soluble and easier to resume for the plant, Studies show.
But arsenic is a natural mineral found in the soil and water, which means that it can be found in a wide range of foods, including apples,, Brussels sprouts And even drinking water in certain regions.
So if it’s in a lot of food, can it be so bad for you?
“In rice and water, arsenic is in an inorganic form. Inorganic arsenic is a toxic chemical, “said Molly Kile, an environmental epidemiologist at Oregon State University.
“But overall, the damage it can cause to human health depends on the quantity – and the duration – of a person who has been exposed to it. It is therefore the quantity and duration of exposure that the inorganic arsenic, a person experiences who determines how the extent of the risk he poses to health. ”
Long-term exposure to inorganic arsenic, she said, was linked At a higher risk of several serious health problems, including cancers such as skin cancer, bladder and lung, as well as type 2 diabetes and premature delivery.
Canada’s rules on arsenic
Health Canada and the International Cancer Research Agency classifies arsenic as a cancer substance. But its toxicity depends on the type: inorganic arsenic is the most worrying form for human health, and it is more frequent in water and rice than in fruits.
“Inorganic arsenic is more worrying for human health than the organic forms of arsenic. Long -term exposure (over several years or decades) at very high levels of inorganic arsenic is associated with an increased risk of cancer and other harmful effects for health “,” Health Canada declares on its website.
Get health news on health
Receive the latest medical information and health information provided to you every Sunday.
But unlike the United States, Canada has enforceable limits On the amount of inorganic arsenic can be present in rice sold to consumers. For example, white rice cannot contain more than 0.2 parts per million (ppm) of inorganic arsenic, while brown rice can have up to 0.35 ppm.
One part per billion (PPB) is more or less like a drop of water in a swimming pool, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency.
Thus, when we talk about 0.2 ppm, it is the equivalent of around 200 drops of arsenic uniformly in this same swimming pool. For 0.35 ppm, you can imagine about 350 drops of arsenic in the pool.
The Food and Drug Administration of the United States has regulated the levels of inorganic arsenic found in rice cereals for infants, capping the level of arsenic eligible for 100 ppb. Health Canada has also regulated arsenic in infants rice cereals at the same level.
Although this seems to be a small quantity, given the toxicity of arsenic, even these small quantities are large, especially for infants, said Kile.
“If an almighty and an adult both eat the same rice cup containing 10 ppb of arsenic, the little one would receive three times more arsenic per kilogram of body weight than the adult. This is one of the reasons why young children are more vulnerable to arsenic-they eat and drink more compared to their size, leading to higher exposures of the same food or water, “she said.
A new report published by Brilliant future of healthy babies (HBBF)An American non-profit organization, noted that rice sold in the United States contains high levels of arsenic.
In its recent report, HBBF tested 145 rice samples from various retailers in the United States, including national and imported types. The results revealed that the arsenic was present in 100% of the samples, with more than a quarter exceeding the federal limit Participate for infants rice cereals.
Brown rice cultivated in the south-east of the United States or labeled “cultivated in the United States” contained the highest average levels of heavy metals, according to the report.
The reason why brown rice has so many arsenic, said Kile, is that when it is present in the soil and water, it accumulates in the external layers of the rice grain (the diapers that brown rice maintains intact).
“This outer layer is eliminated during treatment to make white rice. Brown rice keeps these external layers. Brown rice therefore has more nutrients and fibers, which are good for you, but it will also have more inorganic arsenic than white rice. It is therefore a compromise,” she said.
The report also revealed that alternative grains, such as quinoa, couscous and barley, have total contamination of heavy metals significantly lower than rice. Pre-stupid rice is practical, but has potential risks of an unusually toxic form of arsenic, he added.
“We found four toxic heavy metals in rice – arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury. Although each contaminant has different health effects, they can contribute to serious risks such as cancer, development damage, including IQ loss and accumulation in the body over time.
Adding to these concerns, a study can Lancet’s planetary health Warned that the increase in carbon dioxide levels and temperatures due to climate change increases arsenic levels in rice, which potentially increases chronic health risks, especially in regions that are highly dependent on rice.
A February study in Risk analysis Also found that Americans who eat brown rice regularly have an exposure to higher arsenic, young children being particularly vulnerable because they consume more food compared to their body weight.
Minimize your risk of arsenic
Even if the arsenic levels in food sold in Canada are generally low, Health Canada said There are ways to reduce your exposure with food.
You can start by eating a variety of healthy foods every day. This includes reducing your whole grains – do not only count on rice. Try to incorporate options such as oats, barley, quinoa or whole wheat.
When you cook rice, the use of additional water (at least six parts of water to a rice part) and emptying it later can help eliminate part of the arsenic, Health Canada said.
For babies and young children, offering a wide range of first nutritious foods is essential. If you are using iron -enriched infants cereals, choose versions made with different grains, not just rice. Health Canada also advises to use it with rice drinks as a milk substitute for children under the age of two.
Kile echoes these tips.
“The good news is that there are steps that people can take that are proven to drop in exposure: eat a varied diet, cook rice in additional water and empty it-as you would make it for pasta, and if you count on well water, have it tested for arsenic,” she said.
“Arsenic can occur naturally in groundwater at much higher levels than in rice, and tests are the only way to know if it is present in your well water.”
Rice can always be part of a healthy diet, she said, because it is a nutritious basic food, but be sure to change it and always rinse your rice before cooking.
“In this way, you get the advantages of rice while lowering the potential risk posed by arsenic,” she said.