Inorganic arsenic levels in rice milk exceed EU and US drinking water standards.
Under EU legislation, total arsenic levels in drinking water should not exceed 10 microg l(-1), while in the US this figure is set at 10 microg l(-1) inorganic arsenic. All rice milk samples analysed in a supermarket survey (n = 19) would fail the EU limit with up to 3 times this concentration recorded, while out of the subset that had arsenic species determined (n = 15), 80% had inorganic arsenic levels above 10 microg l(-1), with the remaining 3 samples approaching this value. It is a point for discussion whether rice milk is seen as a water substitute or as a food, there are no EU or US food standards highlighting the disparity between water and food regulations in this respect.
Meharg
Andrew A
AA
School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Cruickshank Building, St., Machar Drive, Aberdeen, UK, AB24 3UU.
Deacon
Claire
C
Campbell
Robert C J
RC
Carey
Anne-Marie
AM
Williams
Paul N
PN
Feldmann
Joerg
J
Raab
Andrea
A
D001152:Arsenicals / Q000032:analysis / Q000592:standards; D005060:Europe; D041941:Milk Substitutes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000592:standards; D012275:Oryza / Q000737:chemistry*; D014481:United States; D014881:Water Supply / Q000592:standards*
D001152:Arsenicals