Arsenic in Rice Causing Cancer.

Arsenic in Rice Causing Cancer.A potential cancer risk from eating large amounts of rice has been exposed by scientists from the University of Manchester after discovering a link between levels of arsenic in rice and genetic damage.

The team worked alongside Indian scientists at CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology and screened over 400,000 individual cells extracted from volunteers in rural West Bengal. It was discovered that those who ate rice as a staple had a higher level of micronuclei (high levels signals chromosomal damage) which has links to cancer.

Experts at Aberdeen University claim that eating large quantities of the rice on a daily basis could increase the risk of certain cancers.The team's leader, Professor Andy Meharg, said he does not let his children eat the suspect rice, The Aberdeen team examined 107 samples of American long-grain rice grown in the U.S. 'south central' belt - Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi, and 27 from California.

The level of inorganic arsenic in the south central rice was three to five times higher than in the rice from California and other parts of the world. Arsenic is found naturally in soil, but the contamination in the south central belt relates to land where cotton was once cultivated. Professor Meharg said: 'Cotton production relied heavily on arsenic pesticides. It left residues in the soils which are still there and is being picked up by the rice.'

Arsenic is believed to be particularly associated with a higher risk of bladder and lung cancer. China recently imposed an upper safety limit of inorganic arsenic contamination of 0.15mg per kilogram for rice. Professor Meharg said 20 per cent of the samples from the south central area were above this threshold and so would be banned in China. The UK and Europe operate to different standards of 1 mg per kilo (.2.2 lbs.) Professor Meharg said: 'The UK safety limit needs to be updated to take into account research showing the impact of long-term chronic arsenic consumption. It should be around the figure used in China.

'We know if you are exposed to even low levels of arsenic over a decade, your risk of cancer will increase.'

American long-grain rice is normally imported to Britain at the rate of 10,000 tons a month, making up 30-40 per cent of the market. However, there is currently a temporary halt because U.S. rice has been found to be tainted with illegal genetically modified varieties.

Sales of all rice have increased dramatically in recent years because it is perceived as relatively healthy. Parents are increasingly using it as a substitute for high fat foods such as chips. He said while the findings have implications for all consumers, they are particularly relevant to communities which eat a lot of rice, particularly from the ethnic minorities.

I Personally like Jasmine Rice from Thailand which has about one eighth the level of regular rice.You can remove about half the arsenic in your rice by rinsing it, cooking it in six parts water to one part rice until it reaches eating texture, then pouring off the extra water.