Heavy metals in rice samples on the Torbat-Heidarieh market, Iran

ABSTRACT

Levels of the heavy metals arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) were determined in rice samples imported from India and Pakistan and marketed in Torbat-Heidarieh, Iran. To assess the safety of dietary intake of these metals by rice, the estimated weekly intake (EWI) was calculated and compared with the provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI). The results indicated that mean values for Pb and cadmium in imported rice were considerably higher than the safe limit as set by FAO/WHO. EWI for cadmium and As among the consumed types of imported rice was lower than the PTWI. The results also revealed that the weekly intake of Pb was higher than the maximum weekly intake recommended by WHO/FAO.

KEYWORDS:

• Heavy metal
• rice
• estimated weekly intake
• arsenic (As)
• cadmium (Cd)
• lead (Pb)
• India
• Pakistan

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Torbat-Heidarieh Medical Sciences University for funding this project.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Torbat-Heidarieh Medical Sciences University.