Investigation of mercury concentration in soil and most cultured rice of Mazandaran province and most consumed imported rice and assess potential health risk

This study was carried out in order to measuring Hg in some varieties of the most consumed imported and most locally cultured rice and comparing together and assess potential health risk. The correlation between Hg content of soil and rice samples, and effect of cooking and washing treatment on Hg concentration in rice, were investigated. In November 2008, locally most cultured rice and soil samples were collected from the Mazandaran province. High consumption of imported Indian rice with commercial brands collected from source, according to purposed method of standard office of Hormozgan. Advanced mercury analyzer Leco AMA 254 used to determination of Hg levels. The results showed that Hg concentration in Iranian rice (0.044 ± 0.003 µg g-1 d.w) significantly over imported rice (0.039 ± 0.001 µg g-1 d.w). Comparing the tolerable daily intakes (TDI) given by FAO/WHO with the mean estimated daily intakes (EDI) through rice consumption in this study was lower than TDI. In addition, results showed that no relationship was found between Hg concentration in rice and soil samples (r= 0.079, p=0.567), and cooking and washing treatment has not significant effect on mercury concentration. Finally, relationship between Hg concentration in soil and rice samples with soil parameters were studied that was not observed any correlation.