Mycotoxins, trace elements, and phthalates in marketed rice of different origin and exposure assessment

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to determine levels of 11 mycotoxins, 10 trace elements, and 6 phthalates in rice samples from Serbian and Chinese market. Mycotoxins were not detected in any of the analysed rice samples. Results revealed similar median levels for following elements: Mn, 17.5 and 15.7 mg kg⁻¹; Fe, 2.47 and 2.12 mg kg⁻¹; Cu, 1.95 and 1.59 mg kg⁻¹ in marketed samples from Serbia and China, respectively. Median concentration of Ni in Serbian marketed samples was 1.9 times higher than in Chinese ones. The median levels (µg kg⁻¹) of phthalates ranged from 1.2 (benzylbutyl phthalate [BBP]) – 566 (di(2-ethyl-hexyl) phthalate [DEHP]) and 1.7 (BBP) – 348 (DEHP) in Serbian and Chinese marketed samples, respectively. The results were used to assess daily exposure of Serbian and Chinese adult consumers. The calculated target hazard quotients indicated that the potential risk attributable to the analysed contaminants in rice samples should not be of concern neither for the Serbian nor the Chinese consumers.

KEYWORDS:

• Mycotoxins
• trace elements
• phthalates
• rice
• risk assessment

Acknowledgements

This study is part of the project no. 172050 funded by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia and the bilateral project “Human exposure assessment to heavy elements, phthalic acid esters and persistent organic pollutants through air, water, dust and food” contracted under the Serbian Chinese Science & Technology Cooperation Program for 2013–2014, funded by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia and by the Division of Euro-Asia, Department of International Cooperation Ministry of Science and Technology of the Republic of China.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Supplemental data

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed here.

Additional information

Funding

This study is part of the project no. 172050 funded by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia and the bilateral project “Human exposure assessment to heavy elements, phthalic acid esters and persistent organic pollutants through air, water, dust and food” contracted under the Serbian Chinese Science & Technology Cooperation Program for 2013–2014, funded by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia and by the Division of Euro-Asia, Department of International Cooperation Ministry of Science and Technology of the Republic of China