Comparative Perspective to the Chemical Composition of Imported Rice: Association of Cooking Method
Ranna Jafari -Moghadam1, Parisa  Ziarati*1, Mohammad Hossein Salehi-Sormaghi2, Mahnaz Qomi1

1Department of Medicinal chemistry, Pharmacy Faculty, Pharmaceutical Sciences Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran-Iran(IAUPS) 2Department of Pharmacognosy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran-Iran  

Abstract: It has been reported that as much as 75% of the daily calorie intake of the people in some Asian countries is derived from rice Lead, cadmium and arsenic are from the prevalent toxic elements in food and environment that have a long half-life after the absorption in humans and animals can make unsought and unpleasant effects such as damage to internal organs, the nervous system, kidneys, liver and lungs. The present study investigated Heavy metal content in, imported rice on sale in Tehran (the most populous city of Iran) market, and assesses daily arsenic and cadmium intake from rice. To assess the levels of Zinc, Iron, Manganese, Nickel, Cadmium and Lead in imported raw rice 600  samples purchased randomly from 5 popular brands of recognized rice market in 2014. The samples were analyzed by wet digestion method and standardized international protocols were followed for the preparation of material and analysis of heavy metals contents and analyzed by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer in Research Laboratory in Pharmaceutical Sciences Branch, Islamic Azad University.  Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was employed to detect significances among samples from different brands. Results were determined as mean ± SD of dry weight from three replicates in each test. The mean content of Nickel, Lead and Cadmium in 48.6%, 27.5% and  42.3% samples from Indian imported  brands were   over respectively, while Zinc, Manganese  and Iron contents were below the maximum permitted levels  for rice.  ANOVA analysis showed that there was a significant difference in Cadmium and Nickel contents in different brands of rice samples (p<0.005). JECFA has set PTWI for the Cadmium at 7 mg/kg of body weight (WHO, 2004). The total dietary exposure levels of Lead, Nickel and Cadmium determined in this study were compared with the provisional tolerable weekly intakes (PTWLS) by the JECFA and showed higher than it. Regular monitoring of all rice varieties should be firmly continued.

Keywords: Imported Rice; Nickel; Cadmium; Lead; Contaminant; PTWLS

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