What is the difference between inorganic and organic arsenic in food?

Inorganic arsenic is the more toxic form and is found mainly in rice and water. Organic arsenic in fish and seafood is much less harmful.

What are the health risks of long-term exposure to inorganic arsenic?

Inorganic arsenic is a human carcinogen linked to cancers of the skin, lung and bladder. Long-term exposure is also linked to heart disease and skin lesions.

Why have expert bodies set no safe intake for inorganic arsenic?

Inorganic arsenic causes cancer, and no threshold of safe exposure has been identified. Intake should be kept as low as reasonably achievable.

Why are infants and young children more at risk from arsenic in rice?

Children eat more food per kilogram of body weight than adults. Rice-based baby foods and rice cakes can make up a large share of their diet.

CCEA A-Level Nutrition and Food Science 3310

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Chemical Contamination

Arsenic in rice

3 things to know
A2 1

Overview

Why rice takes up arsenic, inorganic and organic arsenic, health risks, the risk to infants and rice drinks, EU limits, and how cooking and farming can reduce it.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Your recallNot started

Key term

Which rice products carry the most inorganic arsenic, and how can cooking reduce it?

Key term

Why does rice contain more arsenic than most other cereals?

Key term

How does arsenic come to be in the soil and water used for rice?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1
Why does rice contain more arsenic than most other cereals?
Model answer
Rice is usually grown in flooded paddy fields where arsenic in the soil becomes more soluble. Rice plants take up arsenic readily along with silicon.
2
How does arsenic come to be in the soil and water used for rice?
Model answer
Arsenic occurs naturally in some rocks and groundwater. Mining, pesticides and industrial pollution have added more in some regions.
3
What is the difference between inorganic and organic arsenic in food?
Model answer
Inorganic arsenic is the more toxic form and is found mainly in rice and water. Organic arsenic in fish and seafood is much less harmful.
4
What are the health risks of long-term exposure to inorganic arsenic?
Model answer
Inorganic arsenic is a human carcinogen linked to cancers of the skin, lung and bladder. Long-term exposure is also linked to heart disease and skin lesions.
5
Why have expert bodies set no safe intake for inorganic arsenic?
Model answer
Inorganic arsenic causes cancer, and no threshold of safe exposure has been identified. Intake should be kept as low as reasonably achievable.
6
Why are infants and young children more at risk from arsenic in rice?
Model answer
Children eat more food per kilogram of body weight than adults. Rice-based baby foods and rice cakes can make up a large share of their diet.

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