Assessment of Heavy Metals in Rice Brands and their Potential Risk on Public Health

The accumulation of heavy metals in crops irrigated with wastewater is a serious environmental problem. Wastewater irrigation is widespread, particularly for rice due to its high water demands. This can lead to heavy metal accumulation in rice and subsequent entry into the human body, posing detrimental health effects. This study investigated heavy metal accumulation in 12 rice brands (6 imported and 6 domestic) from the Bushehr city market in Iran. The mean values of lead, arsenic, and cadmium in domestic rice brands were 0.246±0.194, 0.074±0.025, and 0.150±0.124 mg kg-1 respectively, while in imported rice brands they were 0.086±0.031, 0.085±0.021, and 0.031±0.007 mg kg-1 respectively. The mean lead and cadmium levels in domestic rice brands slightly exceeded the FAO/WHO limit, while the mean arsenic concentration was below the limit. To protect human health and reduce food contamination with heavy metals, preventive measures such as regular monitoring of heavy metals in food must be taken.