Survey of total arsenic and arsenic speciation in US-produced rice as a reference point for evaluating change and future trends

Abstract

Rice generally contains higher levels of arsenic than most terrestrial-based foods. Studies related to dietary intake of arsenic from rice must take into account arsenic speciation due to toxicity differences in arsenic species. In this study, microwave-assisted extraction with trifluoroacetic acid was used to prepare rice samples for arsenic speciation analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Fifty-three samples collected directly from the fields in four major rice-producing states in 1980 and 1981 were analysed for total and speciated arsenic and the results were compared with each other and with results for several more recently collected samples from local markets. The average content of total arsenic was 210 ± 190 ng As g⁻¹. This study demonstrates that US rice samples with higher levels of total arsenic have higher levels of dimethylarsinic acid; however, inorganic arsenic levels, regardless of the total arsenic content, rarely exceed 150 ng As g⁻¹ dry weight. These data are consistent with more recent findings, thus establishing trends that arsenic content in US-grown rice has been relatively constant throughout the last 30 years. To the authors’ knowledge, the presented data are unique in that they provide a historical reference point for arsenic distribution in US-produced rice. These data would be invaluable for several applications including long-term arsenic exposure studies, environmental clean-up assessments, and to establish models for future trends in arsenic contribution in total diet studies.

Keywords:

• inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP/MS)
• environmental contaminants
• rice
• arsenic
• arsenic speciation

Acknowledgements

This work was sponsored by the USFDA and USEPA under Interagency Agreement Numbers IAG DW-75939361 and DW-7592171501 and by appointments to the Research Fellowship Program at the USFDA administered by Oak Ridge Associated Universities through a contract with the USFDA.