Co-exposure to methylmercury and inorganic arsenic in baby rice cereals and rice-containing teething biscuits. 2017

Sarah E Rothenberg, and Brian P Jackson, and G Carly McCalla, and Alexis Donohue, and Alison M Emmons
Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA; School of Biological and Population Health Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA. Electronic address: sarah.rothenberg@oregonstate.edu.

Rice is an important dietary source for methylmercury (MeHg), a potent neurotoxin, and inorganic arsenic (As), a human carcinogen. Rice baby cereals are a dietary source of inorganic As; however, less is known concerning MeHg concentrations in rice baby cereals and rice teething biscuits. MeHg concentrations were measured in 36 rice baby cereals, eight rice teething biscuits, and four baby cereals manufactured with oats/wheat (n = 48 total). Arsenic (As) species, including inorganic As, were determined in rice baby cereals and rice teething biscuits (n = 44/48), while total As was determined in all products (n = 48). Rice baby cereals and rice teething biscuits were on average 61 and 92 times higher in MeHg, respectively, and 9.4 and 4.7 times higher in total As, respectively, compared to wheat/oat baby cereals. For a 15-g serving of rice baby cereal, average MeHg intake was 0.0092μgday-1 (range: 0.0013-0.034μgday-1), while average inorganic As intake was 1.3μgday-1 (range: 0.37-2.3μgday-1). Inorganic As concentrations in two brands of rice baby cereal (n = 12/36 boxes of rice cereal) exceeded 100ng/g, the proposed action level from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Log10 MeHg and inorganic As concentrations in rice baby cereals were strongly, positively correlated (Pearson's rho = 0.60, p < 0.001, n = 36). Rice-containing baby cereals and teething biscuits were a dietary source of both MeHg and inorganic As. Studies concerning the cumulative impacts of MeHg and inorganic As on offspring development are warranted.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007223 Infant A child between 1 and 23 months of age. Infants
D007225 Infant Food Food processed and manufactured for the nutritional health of children in their first year of life. Food, Infant,Foods, Infant,Infant Foods
D007231 Infant, Newborn An infant during the first 28 days after birth. Neonate,Newborns,Infants, Newborn,Neonates,Newborn,Newborn Infant,Newborn Infants
D008767 Methylmercury Compounds Organic compounds in which mercury is attached to a methyl group. Methyl Mercury Compounds,Compounds, Methyl Mercury,Compounds, Methylmercury,Mercury Compounds, Methyl
D002523 Edible Grain SEEDS used as a major nutritional source, most often the grain from the POACEAE family. Cereals,Cereal Grain,Cereal,Cereal Grains,Edible Grains,Grain, Cereal,Grain, Edible,Grains, Cereal,Grains, Edible
D005506 Food Contamination The presence in food of harmful, unpalatable, or otherwise objectionable foreign substances, e.g. chemicals, microorganisms or diluents, before, during, or after processing or storage. Food Adulteration,Adulteration, Food,Adulterations, Food,Contamination, Food,Contaminations, Food,Food Adulterations,Food Contaminations
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D001151 Arsenic A shiny gray element with atomic symbol As, atomic number 33, and atomic weight 75. It occurs throughout the universe, mostly in the form of metallic arsenides. Most forms are toxic. According to the Fourth Annual Report on Carcinogens (NTP 85-002, 1985), arsenic and certain arsenic compounds have been listed as known carcinogens. (From Merck Index, 11th ed) Arsenic-75,Arsenic 75
D001152 Arsenicals Inorganic or organic compounds that contain arsenic. Arsenic Compounds,Compounds, Arsenic
D014481 United States A country in NORTH AMERICA between CANADA and MEXICO.

Related Publications

Sarah E Rothenberg, and Brian P Jackson, and G Carly McCalla, and Alexis Donohue, and Alison M Emmons
April 2008, Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987),
Sarah E Rothenberg, and Brian P Jackson, and G Carly McCalla, and Alexis Donohue, and Alison M Emmons
July 2008, Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987),
Sarah E Rothenberg, and Brian P Jackson, and G Carly McCalla, and Alexis Donohue, and Alison M Emmons
July 2020, Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association,
Sarah E Rothenberg, and Brian P Jackson, and G Carly McCalla, and Alexis Donohue, and Alison M Emmons
July 2021, Drug and chemical toxicology,
Sarah E Rothenberg, and Brian P Jackson, and G Carly McCalla, and Alexis Donohue, and Alison M Emmons
April 2021, International journal of environmental research and public health,
Sarah E Rothenberg, and Brian P Jackson, and G Carly McCalla, and Alexis Donohue, and Alison M Emmons
November 2013, Journal of agricultural and food chemistry,
Sarah E Rothenberg, and Brian P Jackson, and G Carly McCalla, and Alexis Donohue, and Alison M Emmons
December 2022, International journal of environmental research and public health,
Sarah E Rothenberg, and Brian P Jackson, and G Carly McCalla, and Alexis Donohue, and Alison M Emmons
May 2017, Environmental health perspectives,
Sarah E Rothenberg, and Brian P Jackson, and G Carly McCalla, and Alexis Donohue, and Alison M Emmons
August 2020, Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987),
Sarah E Rothenberg, and Brian P Jackson, and G Carly McCalla, and Alexis Donohue, and Alison M Emmons
May 2015, Journal of food science,
Copied contents to your clipboard!