Rice is one of the major cereal crops in the world, contributing to the dietary energy and nutrition of more than half of the world's population. Photo Credit: Eduardo Prim |
The use of water contaminated with higher than recommended levels of arsenic could pose a serious health risk to millions, a new study from the University of Sheffield has found.
Around 32 per cent of the world's population live in countries that do not adhere to the World Health Organization's recommendations on safe limits of arsenic in drinking water
Rice is already known to contain more inorganic arsenic than other cereals
Cooking rice with water containing more than 10 µg L-1 (parts per billion) inorganic arsenic amplifies the risk of arsenic exposure
Long-term exposure to inorganic arsenic in water can cause serious health problems such as cancers, diabetes and pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases
Rice is one of the major cereal crops in the world, contributing to the dietary energy and nutrition of more than half of the world's population
The use of water contaminated with higher than recommended levels of arsenic could pose a serious health risk to millions, a new study from the University of Sheffield has found.