Speciation of inorganic arsenic in baby rice cereals using HPLC-ICP-MS Application note

Rice is one of the main sources of inorganic arsenic (iAs) consumed. Arsenic occurs naturally in the environment and can also be present as the result of human activity, such as through the use of arsenic-based pesticides prior to the 1970s. Rice plants are especially ef cient at accumulating arsenic from their environment, because the ooded areas in which they are grown make it easier to take up arsenic compounds.

Inorganic arsenic is a known carcinogen, and chronic exposure to low levels of arsenic has been linked to increased risk of bladder, lung, and skin cancer, as well as Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Brown rice tends to contain more arsenic than white rice. Rice samples from the United States have shown higher inorganic arsenic levels compared to other samples from around the world, and infant rice cereal sold in the US is generally made from American rice.