US Rice Imports “Contain Harmful Levels of Lead”

Agricultural crops can absorb heavy pollutants from soil and water. A report at the American Chemical Society Meeting suggests that rice imports from Asia, Europe and Israel, can exceed what’s called the “provisional total tolerable intake” level of lead, set by the US Food and Drug Administration by a factor of 120, particularly for Asian consumers who tend to eat more rice, reports Jason Palmer for BBC News. Lead “is a particular risk for young children, who suffer significant developmental problems if exposed to elevated lead levels,” he reports. “Because rice is grown in heavily irrigated conditions, it is more susceptible than other staple crops to environmental pollutants in irrigation water.” Previous studies have shown the presence of arsenic in rice. The US imports about 7 percent of its rice. Tsanangurayi Tongesayi of Monmouth University in New Jersey, led the study and suggests that electronic waste shipped to Asia for recycling adds to pollution woes – and that the global food market may require standard agricultural and environmental practices. – YaleGlobal