A potential cancer risk from eating large amounts of rice has been exposed by scientists from the University of Manchester after discovering a link between levels of arsenic in rice and genetic damage.
The study revealed a link between high levels of arsenic in rice and chromosomal damage, which has links to causing cancer.
However the scientists have said there is no need to panic as the main threat is to people who eat a significant amount of rice as a staple in their diet over a long period and are also undernourished.
Professor David Polya, leader of the Manchester team in the University’s School of Earth, Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences, said: “Although concerns about arsenic in rice have been raised for some time now, to our knowledge, this is the first time a link between consumption of arsenic-bearing rice and genetic damage has been demonstrated.
“As such, it vindicates increasing concerns expressed by the European Food Safety Authority and others about the adequacy of regulation of arsenic in rice.”
The team worked alongside Indian scientists at CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology and screened over 400,000 individual cells extracted from volunteers in rural West Bengal.
It was discovered that those who ate rice as a staple had a higher level of micronuclei – high levels signals chromosomal damage, which has links to cancer.
Dr Ashok K Giri, who led the Indian research team, added: “Although high arsenic in rice is a potential threat to human health, there should not be any panic about the consequences, particularly as the health risks arise from long-term chronic exposure.
“We can avoid high arsenic rice by taking proper mitigation strategies for rice cultivation; moreover, one CSIR institute in India has already identified a number of Indian rice varieties which accumulate lower concentrations of arsenic, so we can easily address future human health risks with proper mitigation strategies.”
Men and women were observed in the survey as were tobacco-users and non-users.
Scientists recognised a similarity with previous research that identified people exposed to arsenic through drinking high arsenic well waters, which resulted in cases of cancer worldwide
The scientists believed their work raises considerable concerns about the health impacts of consuming high arsenic rice as a staple, especially by people with relatively reduced nutritional status.
However, for countries like the UK, where the nutritious status is higher and consumption of rice is lower, further research is needed in order to fully determine the health impacts.
Picture courtesy of Emily Barney, with thanks.
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