title: A market basket survey of As, Zn and Se in rice imports in Qatar: health implications.
abstract: Qatar is dependent on importation of rice, its staple dish, and is therefore susceptible to compromises of food quality in the global market. This market basket study assesses potential health risks of As exposure from rice consumption in Qatar and examines its contribution to the recommended nutritional intakes (RNI) for Zn and Se. Fifty-six rice types and 12 products sold in Qatar were analyzed by ICP/MS. Mean concentrations and ranges were 96.2±54.1μg/kg (9.76-258μg/kg) for As; 12.5±5.35mg/kg (2.79-29.9mg/kg) for Zn and 103±113μg/kg (<5.94-422μg/kg) for Se. Calculated risk quotient shows rice consumption in Qatar is not a significant route of As exposure but can contribute up to 100% and 50% of the RNI for Se and Zn, respectively. Results indicate that children in Qatar may be at elevated risk of arsenic exposure from rice-based infant cereals but more data is needed to obtain a definitive assessment.
authors.affiliation: Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute (QEERI), Qatar Foundation, P.O. Box 5825, Doha, Qatar.
authors.forename: Candace
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rowell
authors.affiliation: Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute (QEERI), Qatar Foundation, P.O. Box 5825, Doha, Qatar.
authors.forename: Nora
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kuiper
authors.affiliation: Central Laboratory Unit, Department of Chemistry, Qatar University, P.O. Box 2713, Doha, Qatar.
authors.forename: Khalid
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Al-Saad
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health Science, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
authors.forename: Jerome
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nriagu
authors.affiliation: Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute (QEERI), Qatar Foundation, P.O. Box 5825, Doha, Qatar. Electronic address: bshomar@qf.org.qa.
authors.forename: Basem
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Shomar
mesh_terms: D001151:Arsenic / Q000032:analysis; D002523:Edible Grain; D005260:Female; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis*; D063427:Food Quality; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007225:Infant Food / Q000032:analysis; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D012275:Oryza / Q000737:chemistry*; D011780:Qatar; D064167:Recommended Dietary Allowances; D012643:Selenium / Q000032:analysis; D015032:Zinc / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D012643:Selenium; D015032:Zinc; D001151:Arsenic
keywords: Arsenic; Rice; Risk quotient; Selenium; Total Daily Intake (TDI); Zinc