CONTAMINATION OF ARSENIC IN RICE-BASED BABY FOOD PRODUCTS AND THEIR HEALTH RISKS

Abstract

This study aims to assess the health risks associated with arsenic exposure in consumers of rice-based infant food products. The consumption patterns of rice-based baby food products among individuals aged 4-12 months in Qatar utilized two consumption scenarios: a food balance sheet analysis and national dietary intake. The collected rice-based infant food products from four different categories (plain rice, rice with fruits, rice with vegetables, and rice with milk) and seven different brands (A, B, C, D, E, F, and G) in Qatar from three major hypermarkets during two distinct seasons (winter and summer) to investigate the potential impact of seasonal variations on arsenic contamination in rice and rice-based products. The collected products were analyzed using the ICP-MS method, revealing a total arsenic content ranging from 0.144 μg/kg to 55.14 μg/kg. Subsequently, the statistical analysis was conducted for consumption and contamination data using a non-parametric test (Kruskal–Wallis) due to the non-normal distribution of contamination data, and there were significant differences among the product brands regarding arsenic contamination. Based on these contamination data, three case scenarios were considered: the worst case (maximum arsenic concentration), in which infants consume highly contaminated products; the average case (mean arsenic concentration); and the best case (minimum arsenic concentration), where infants are assumed to consume the lowest or uncontaminated rice-based products. Utilizing these scenarios, the exposure assessment was conducted employing both probabilistic and deterministic approaches, which allowed the determination of the Hazard Quotient (HQ) and Lifetime Cancer Risk (LTCR). The findings of the study indicate that the consumption of plain rice increases the risk of arsenic exposure, and the consumption of rice-based food products poses a health risk to infants aged 4-12 months in Qatar if these products are consumed daily according to national dietary guidelines.