Abstract

The objective of this study is to investigate background levels of As and heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn) and their dietary intakes from white rice produced at various provinces in Korea during 2000. Except Jeju-do, sixtythree rice grain samples were taken at 8 provinces and analyzed for the elements using ICP-AES after acid digestion. The average contents of As, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn in the samples were 0.126, 0.040, 1.96, 0.361 and 16.6 mg/kg(DW), respectively. These levels are within the ranges of worldwide average concentrations in rice grains reported by various research. Assuming the rice consumption of 256 g/day by overall households in Korea, the amount of daily intake of As, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn by the rice were estimated to be 32.3, 10.2, 502, 92.4 and 4,250 μg/day, respectively. Those amount of daily intakes of the elements by the rice are within the WHO's guide for trace elements, however, rice consumption is one of the most important sources of dietary intake of As and some heavy metals in Korean population.

Keywords background levels, As, Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn, white rice, daily intake