Arsenic in Argentinean polished rice: situation overview and regulatory framework

Abstract

The Codex Alimentarius has established a 200 μg kg-1 limit of iAs in polished rice grain, while the Argentine Food Code, in accordance with the Mercado Común del Sur (Mercosur), has set an advisory level of 300 μg kg-1 of total As. This study aimed to map the content of arsenic species in polished rice grains of different varieties and cultivation areas from Argentina. Mean concentrations of total, organic and inorganic As concentrations were 303 μg kg-1, 222 μg kg-1 and 81 μg kg-1, respectively. Almost 32% of the Argentinean polished rice samples had total As ≥ 300 μg kg-1. However, 4.7% of the samples had iAs ≥ 200 μg kg-1; all of them with total As closed to 1000 μg kg-1. Samples with iAs ≥ 200 μg kg-1 were obtained from the South of the province of Corrientes. Competent regulatory bodies should consider a reform of the maximum limits of As in polished rice.