Abstract

Rice is a dietary staple throughout Latin America and serves as a major source for heavy-metal exposure by consumers. This study investigated arsenic, lead and cadmium levels in rice from Guyana and Chile, assessing associated public health risks. The quantification of these metals was carried out by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES). The mean level of total As in Guyanese rice (100 +/- 21 ng/g dw) was higher than in those marketed in Chile (75 +/- 36 ng/g dw), while comparison of their mean Pb and Cd levels revealed no statistical differences. Target Hazard Quotient (THQ) values indicated that the population in Guyana may face non-cancer health risks, as the THQ reached 1, while Chilean rice posed no non-cancer risks. Carcinogenic risks were estimated at 4.3 x 10-4 for Guyana and 6.4 x 10-5 for Chile, suggesting potential cancer risks from rice consumption by their population.