While high arsenic levels don’t present a major health risk for American adults, children under 5 years old could be at risk.
Children Under 5 at Greatest Risk
The study, conducted by Michigan State University researchers, highlights a food safety concern for American consumers, particularly young children.
For rice grown within the United States, brown rice contained 48 percent inorganic arsenic, which is generally more toxic than organic arsenic, while white rice was measured at 33 percent. However, they also found that rice grown globally contained even higher arsenic levels, with 65 percent of total arsenic in brown rice being inorganic.
While white rice has its bran and germ removed, brown rice does not, leading to more arsenic being concentrated in brown rice.
Both types of arsenic are naturally occurring chemicals. Organic arsenic is more commonly found in seafood, while inorganic arsenic can occur from volcanic activities. Human activities like mining and metal smelting can also introduce arsenic into the environment.
While arsenic levels were found to be higher in brown rice sold in the United States, it doesn’t present a major health risk for adults, but children under 5 years old could be at risk due to higher food intake relative to their bodyweight compared with adults, according to the authors.
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Arsenic is a naturally occurring element found in the Earth’s crust and is known to be highly toxic. Rice sits in water, which absorbs inorganic arsenic from the earth.
According to researchers, unlike many other cereal grains, rice absorbs nearly 10 times more of the substance than other grains due to its growth in flooded fields, which allows the plant to take up arsenic from the soil.
Researchers analyzed data on arsenic exposure using resources from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Their findings revealed regional differences in arsenic levels.
Levels Not High Enough for Concern
Wu emphasized that these findings should not lead consumers to avoid brown rice entirely or switch solely to white rice. Brown rice still offers important nutrients, such as fiber, protein, and niacin, which are beneficial for health.
“While we found that choosing brown rice over white rice would result in higher arsenic exposure on average, the levels should not cause long-term health problems unless someone ate an enormous amount of brown rice every day for years,” she added.
“Even if arsenic levels are slightly higher in brown rice than white rice, more research is needed to demonstrate if the potential risks from this exposure are mitigated in part by the potential nutritional benefits provided by the rice bran,” she noted.
As regulators like the U.S. Food and Drug Administration work towards setting action levels for arsenic in food products, the researchers advocate for further analysis of the overall health impacts of brown versus white rice. They believe a comprehensive understanding will aid in balancing health benefits against potential risks.
Alternatives and Preparation Methods
It’s important to vary the whole grains in our diet, Emily Feivor, a registered dietitian at Northwell Health in New York, told The Epoch Times.
There are alternatives to brown rice that parents worried about arsenic might consider for their children, she noted.
“For infants, using an iron-fortified cereal from oats or barley rather than rice can be suggested,” she said.
For others, varying whole grains such as quinoa, amaranth, buckwheat, millet, and polenta, which have very low levels of arsenic is an option,” Feivor added.
Arsenic levels can also be reduced using specific preparation methods. Feivor recommends soaking rice overnight, draining, and then rinsing before cooking to reduce arsenic levels.
“It is suggested that cooking it to a 1:6 rice to water ratio and rinsing it will also help further reduce levels.”
