Assessing the Risk of Hg Exposure Associated with Rice Consumption in a Typical City (Suzhou) in Eastern China.

Gang Wang,Yi-Xin Zhu,Huan Zhong,Yu Gong,Ai-Jun Miao,Liu-Yan Yang

doi:10.3390/ijerph14050525

Abstract

Recent studies have revealed that not only fish but also rice consumption may significantly contribute to human exposure to mercury (Hg) in Asian countries. It is therefore essential to assess dietary exposure to Hg in rice and its associated health risk. However, risk assessments of Hg in rice in non-contaminated areas are generally lacking in Asian countries. In the present study, Hg concentrations were measured in rice samples collected from markets and supermarkets in Suzhou, a typical city in Eastern China. In addition, the rice ingestion rates (IR) were assessed via a questionnaire-based survey of Suzhou residents. The data were then used to assess the risk of Hg exposure associated with rice consumption, by calculating the hazard quotient (HQ). Hg contents in rice samples were well below the national standard (20 μg/kg), ranging from 1.46 to 8.48 ng/g. They were also significantly (p > 0.05) independent of the area of production and place of purchase (markets vs. supermarkets in the different districts). Our results indicate a low risk of Hg exposure from rice in Suzhou (HQ: 0.005–0.05), despite the generally high personal IR (0.05–0.4 kg/day). The risk of Hg associated with rice consumption for Suzhou residents was not significantly affected by the age or sex of the consumer (p > 0.05). Overall, our results provide a study of human exposure to Hg in rice in Chinese cities not known to be contaminated with Hg. Future studies should examine Hg exposure in different areas in China and in potentially vulnerable major food types.

Highlights

Since the recognition of Minamata disease in 1956, mercury (Hg)-related food safety issues have been a matter of concern throughout the world, but especially in Asia
Our results indicate a low risk of Hg exposure from rice in Suzhou (HQ: 0.005–0.05), despite the generally high personal ingestion rates (IR) (0.05–0.4 kg/day)
The results of the present study clearly demonstrated the low risk of Hg exposure associated withresults rice consumption by consumers in Suzhou city andthe may berisk representative of other cities in with

Summary

Introduction

Since the recognition of Minamata disease in 1956, mercury (Hg)-related food safety issues have been a matter of concern throughout the world, but especially in Asia. It is generally believed that fish/shellfish consumption is one of the major route of human exposure to Hg [1,2,3,4,5]. Hg contents in fish/shellfish and the associated health risk to consumers have been extensively studied [7,8,9]. Detrimental effects of Hg associated with fish/shellfish consumption have been reported in a number of studies, e.g., the European fish-eating cohorts under Public Health Impact of Low-level Mixed Element Exposure (PHIME), the Seychelles Child. Recent studies indicate that rice consumption could contribute significantly to human exposure to Hg [13,14]. In certain inland areas of China (e.g., Wanshan mining area), rice consumption was found to be responsible for the majority of human Hg exposure (as high as 42%) [15], due to the high consumption rates (600 g/day)

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