title: Inorganic arsenic and trace elements in Ghanaian grain staples.
abstract: A total of 549 samples of rice, maize, wheat, sorghum and millet were obtained from markets in Ghana, the EU, US and Asia. Analysis of the samples, originating from 21 countries in 5 continents, helped to establish global mean trace element concentrations in grains; thus placing the Ghanaian data within a global context. Ghanaian rice was generally low in potentially toxic elements, but high in essential nutrient elements. Arsenic concentrations in rice from US (0.22 mg/kg) and Thailand (0.15 mg/kg) were higher than in Ghanaian rice (0.11 mg/kg). Percentage inorganic arsenic content of the latter (83%) was, however, higher than for US (42%) and Thai rice (67%). Total arsenic concentration in Ghanaian maize, sorghum and millet samples (0.01 mg/kg) was an order of magnitude lower than in Ghanaian rice, indicating that a shift from rice-centric to multigrain diets could help reduce health risks posed by dietary exposure to inorganic As.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Cruickshank Building, St Machar Drive, Aberdeen AB24 3UU, UK. eadomako@ug.edu.gh
authors.forename: Eureka E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Adomako
authors.forename: Paul N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Deacon
authors.forename: Andrew A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Meharg
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001151:Arsenic / Q000032:analysis*; D002648:Child; D004032:Diet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002523:Edible Grain / Q000737:chemistry*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005869:Ghana; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000032:analysis*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014131:Trace Elements; D001151:Arsenic