Download arsenic - UNCLE BEN`S® Rice

Combating Consumer Fears:
ARSENIC
IS EATING RICE SAFE? YES!
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been testing for
arsenic in a variety of foods, including rice, for more than 20
years. There are no documented incidents in which arsenic in
U.S. rice has led to human health problems. The FDA currently
does not recommend that consumers change their diets.1
WHAT IS ARSENIC?
Arsenic is a naturally occurring, ever-present trace element found in soil, water, air and some foods.1
Arsenic comes from the earth’s crust, and is found in various concentrations throughout the world.
Risk of negative health implications from arsenic consumption is impacted by the type of arsenic
consumed and the amount.
It’s important to note there are no documented incidents in which arsenic in U.S. rice has led to
human health problems.
TYPES OF ARSENIC
Because arsenic comes from the earth’s crust, it combines with carbon to form organic arsenic.
Organic arsenic, which is
found in fish, is limited in
its metabolization within
the body and considered
harmless.
Inorganic arsenic is when arsenic is combined with elements like
metals other than carbon. These compounds are emitted into the air
and then deposited into the land and soil. Inorganic arsenic does not
accumulate in the body and most people secrete it unchanged through
sweat or urine a few days after ingesting it.2
Arsenic levels reported in the media are usually reported as total arsenic, which combines organic
and inorganic levels. Arsenic is measured in parts per billion (ppb), which is the number of units of
mass of a contaminant per 1,000 million units of total mass.3
HAVE YOU CONSUMED ARSENIC TODAY? YES.
The answer to this question on a daily basis across the world is YES. Arsenic
is prevalent in water, soil and plant-derived foods, so nearly everyone eats
and drinks some level of arsenic every day. Foods like vegetables, fruits, beer,
wine and grains make up the majority of a person’s dietary arsenic intake.4
About half of a person’s consumption of inorganic arsenic comes from
ingesting water. Because water is used not only to drink, but also grow and
cook food, the ppb of arsenic in water is closely monitored. The World Health
Organization (WHO) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) set the
standard for arsenic in water at 10 ppb of total arsenic.5 Water in the United
States is consistently measured well below this standard.
HOW DOES ARSENIC GET IN FOOD?
Arsenic gets into our food because we grow with soil and water, which contain this naturally
occurring element. Arsenic can be found in nearly every food grown or made with soil or water,
including fruits, vegetables, beer, wine and grains. It is virtually impossible to consume a wellbalanced diet without ingesting low levels of arsenic.
WHY IS ARSENIC IN RICE?
All plants take up arsenic from the soil and water. Rice is not only planted, but also flooded
during its maturation. Additionally, the structure of rice helps absorb more of it from the soil and
water than other plants. It should be noted that no arsenic-containing pesticides are used
in the U.S. production of rice.
Despite all of this, rice accounts for less than 20 percent of a person’s dietary arsenic intake.6
Outside of water, the largest source of dietary intake of arsenic are fruits and vegetables.
WHAT OTHER FOODS CONTAIN ARSENIC?
Every food group – as well as water – contains arsenic, including fruits, vegetables, juices, beer,
wine, meats, eggs and grains. Eliminating consumption of any one food, such as rice, will not
eliminate a person’s consumption of arsenic.7
WHAT SHOULD I DO TO REDUCE MY RISK?
The best way for you to reduce your risk of adverse health effects from arsenic exposure is to eat
a well-balanced diet. This not only helps in gaining good nutrition, but also limits your exposure to
arsenic from any one source.
WHAT IS THE FDA DOING ABOUT ARSENIC IN RICE?
The FDA has been testing for arsenic in a variety of foods, including rice, for more than 20 years. In
fact, in September 2013 the organization released the results from more than 1,300 samples of rice
products tested for arsenic.
Currently, the FDA recommends consumers eat a well-balanced diet for good nutrition and to
minimize potential adverse consequences from consuming an excess of any one food.
The FDA is currently reviewing the data to help formulate a risk assessment of long-term exposure
and future recommendations.
For more information about the FDA’s process for reviewing arsenic in rice visit http://www.fda.gov/
Food/FoodborneIllnessContaminants/Metals/ucm319948.htm
KEY MESSAGES FOR CONSUMERS
• If you’ve consumed water, fruits, vegetables or grains, you’ve ingested some
level of arsenic. Arsenic is in the air, soil and water. It is well-monitored in the
U.S. by agencies like the FDA, USDA, and EPA to ensure the levels ingested by
consumers do not adversely impact health.
•There are no documented incidents in which arsenic in US rice has led to
human health problems.
•Eliminating rice, or any category of food, from the diet will not eliminate the
consumption of arsenic. Eating a wide variety of foods is the best way to
reduce your risk of any adverse health effects.
1
Available at: http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp2. Accessed July 3, 2014.
5
2
Sears ME, Kerr KJ, Bray RI. Arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury in sweat: a systematic review. J Environ
3, 2014.
Public Health. 2012;2012:184745.
6
Available at: http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-WATER/2003/March/Day- 25/w7048.htm. Accessed July
Xue J, Zartarian V, Wang SW, Liu SV, Georgopoulos P. Probabilistic Modeling of Dietary Arsenic Exposure
3
Available at: http://www.greenfacts.org/glossary/pqrs/parts-per-billion.htm. Accessed July 3, 2014.
and Dose and Evaluation with 2003-2004 NHANES Data. Environmental Health
4
Xue J, Zartarian V, Wang SW, Liu SV, Georgopoulos P. Probabilistic Modeling of Dietary Arsenic
Perspective. 2010;118(3):345-350.
Exposure and Dose and Evaluation with 2003-2004 NHANES Data. Environmental Health Perspective.
7
2010;118(3):345-350.
http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodborneIllnessContaminants/Metals/ucm319948.htm.
Available at:
Accessed July 3, 2014.