If you think you’re healthier than buying brown on white rice, you might want to think twice.
Researchers found that brown rice contains 15% high levels of arsenic, a toxic metal associated with cancer and brain damage.
For average healthy adults, it may not be much different.
But the Michigan State team behind the analysis said it could pose a risk to young children with still developing brains.
Scientists found that 6-24-month-old children who consumed brown rice had about twice the estimated arsenic exposure compared to those who consumed similar amounts of white rice.
Early exposure to arsenic, a naturally occurring chemical element found in the Earth’s crust, is associated with lower IQs such as autism and ADHD, memory loss, difficulty learning, and more severe brain conditions.
“This study is important because it acknowledges the importance of considering food safety along with nutrition when making food choices,” said Felicia Wu, a university professor and senior author of the study.
“We found that choosing brown rice over white rice would mean higher arsenic exposure on average, but levels should not cause long-term health issues unless someone has eaten a huge amount of brown rice every day for years.”
Choosing to buy a bag of brown rice instead of white for your family may make your child sick and increase the risk of cancer
Brown rice has more arsenic due to the accumulation of toxic chemicals in the outer brown layer of grain known as rice blanc.
Rice blanc gives brown rice its color, but is removed to produce white rice during the grinding process. Therefore, it reduces the arsenic concentration.
Experts reviewed dozens of nutritional aspects of brown and white rice, and analyzed data from the “eating in America” database compiled by the US Environmental Protection Agency and the Joint Institute for Food Science and Applied Nutrition.
Knowing how much Americans of different age groups consumed from the database, we calculated the average dose (additional) of arsenic exposure using a formula that took into account rice arsenic levels, daily rice consumption, and average weights of different age cohorts.
With these numbers, they compared arsenic exposure from white and brown rice, and looked at exposure patterns across different age groups with particular attention to children under 5 years of age.
Of the total arsenic in the rice, 48% were in the inorganic form. This means that toxic substances are combined with other elements such as oxygen, chlorine, and sulfur, which can cause more damage than organic arsenic.
While in white rice, that was 33%.
Arsenic comes in two forms: inorganic arsenic (a dangerous type – a dangerous type associated with cancer, developmental problems, etc.).
Meanwhile, brown rice grown in other parts of the world had an inorganic concentration level of 65%, while white rice also had a shocking 53% concentration.
The US rice industry produces 20 billion pounds of rice per year, of which 80% is consumed by the Americans themselves, but imports about 1.3 million tonnes of grain.
Additionally, we found that the rice blanc – the outer layer that makes the rice “brown” – contains arsenic concentration about 10 times higher than the inside of the rice (white interior).
Experts also found that 6-24-month toddlers and toddlers who consume brown rice could consume 0.29-0.59 micrograms of arsenic per 0.29-0.59 micrograms of arsenic every day.
Photo: Felicia Wu, professor at the university and senior author of the study
Children between 6 and 24 months of eating brown rice were about twice the estimated arsenic exposure.
“Rice blanc and brown rice have been shown to have a higher arsenic and inorganic arsenic content than grain endoderm and white rice,” the researchers concluded.
Inorganic arsenic is a toxic element and is a naturally occurring form of arsenic that is widely distributed in the Earth’s crust. It can be found in soil, water and food.
Compared to other crops planted in the soil, rice naturally absorbs more arsenic. It occupies almost ten times more arsenic than other grains.
This occurs because rice grows inundated spaces and creates conditions in which arsenic becomes available not only through soil but also through water.
When absorbed from the roots, toxic compounds accumulate in the outer layer of rice grains, known primarily as rice bran.
For white rice, rice blanc is exactly the part that removes during processing to bring out the white colour of the grain, reducing the overall arsenic concentration.
Compared to other crops planted in the soil, rice naturally absorbs more arsenic.
The FDA warns that long-term exposure to inorganic arsenic can cause an increased risk of arsenic poisoning, skin disorders, skin, bladder, lung cancer and cardiovascular disease.
High levels of arsenic exposure (infants and young children) in an era of active brain development are also associated with adverse neurological effects such as learning disabilities, behavioral difficulties and reduced IQ, paving the way for conditions such as autism.
Furthermore, short-term exposure to extremely large amounts of inorganic arsenic can lead to nausea, vomiting, bruising, numbness, or burning sensations in the hands and feet of people of all ages.
Although accurate annual deaths from arsenic exposure in the United States are difficult to identify due to a variety of causes and potential misunderstandings, studies suggest that approximately 500 early deaths from heart disease and 1,000 annual cancer cases are due to exposure to arsenic in drinking water.
Three Americans died of arsenic poisoning in 2016, the American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC).
Arsenic poisoning caused by drinking contaminated water affects at least 140 million people, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
