Clinical Pharmacist and Master’s student in Clinical Pharmacy with research interests in pharmacovigilance, behavioral interventions in mental health, and AI applications in clinical decision support. Experience includes digital health research with Bloomsbury Health (London) and pharmacovigilance practice in patient support programs. Published work covers drug awareness among healthcare providers, postpartum depression management, and patient safety reporting. 
Clinical Pharmacist and Master’s student in Clinical Pharmacy with research interests in pharmacovigilance, behavioral interventions in mental health, and AI applications in clinical decision support. Experience includes digital health research with Bloomsbury Health (London) and pharmacovigilance practice in patient support programs. Published work covers drug awareness among healthcare providers, postpartum depression management, and patient safety reporting. What was studied?
This original research article conducted a comprehensive risk assessment of inorganic arsenic (As) exposure from rice cereal and other dietary sources consumed by infants and toddlers in the U.S., utilizing the focus keyphrase “arsenic in rice cereal risk assessment.” The study aimed to determine whether current levels of Asi in rice cereal available in the U.S. market are safe for consumption by infants and toddlers aged four to 24 months. Using literature data, including the U.S. FDA’s surveys of arsenic in rice cereal and dietary intake recommendations, the study quantified exposure levels and potential health risks. The researchers calculated hazard quotients (HQs) for both acute and chronic exposures using the U.S. ATSDR’s Minimal Risk Levels (MRLs) and assessed incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) based on established potency factors. Additionally, the study proposed a maximum contaminant level (MCL) for As in rice cereal, taking into account all dietary and water sources relevant to infants and toddlers. Monte Carlo simulations were performed to account for variability in intake, body weight, and arsenic concentrations.
Who was studied?
The risk assessment focused on infants and toddlers between four and 24 months of age residing in the U.S., a population uniquely vulnerable to heavy metal exposure due to their physiological development and dietary practices. The study did not involve direct sampling of individuals but instead used representative exposure models based on recommended dietary intakes, age-specific body weights, and food consumption patterns for this age group. The analysis incorporated data from national surveys and scientific literature to estimate the amounts and types of foods, including rice cereal, infant formula, drinking water, and other solid foods, consumed by infants and toddlers. This modeling approach allowed for a probabilistic assessment of arsenic exposure and risk across the spectrum of dietary habits in the U.S. infant and toddler population.
Most important findings
| Critical Points | Details |
|---|---|
| Major Source of Exposure | Rice cereal accounted for 55% of overall inorganic arsenic (Asi) exposure in U.S. infants and toddlers, with other solid foods (19%), drinking water (18%), and infant formula (9%) contributing less. |
| Acute and Chronic Risk | Acute hazard quotients (HQacute) for Asi exposure were below 1.0 for all percentiles, indicating low risk for short-term effects. However, chronic hazard quotients (HQchronic) exceeded 1.0 at the 50th and 75th percentiles, suggesting potential risk of non-carcinogenic effects for a significant portion of the infant population. |
| Incremental Lifetime Cancer Risk (ILCR) | The ILCR from rice cereal and overall dietary sources ranged from 10⁻⁶ (50th percentile) to 10⁻⁵ (75th percentile), compatible with WHO and U.S. EPA’s accepted risk ranges for carcinogens in drinking water. |
| Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) Recommendations | The study calculated an MCL for Asi in rice cereal of 0.0 mg/kg (chronic, theoretical risk-free goal) to 0.4 mg/kg (acute), with the international guideline of 0.2 mg/kg (FAO/WHO) falling between these values. Some U.S. rice cereals exceeded 0.2 mg/kg but were below 0.4 mg/kg. |
| Regulatory Gap and Industry Impact | There is currently no U.S. regulatory standard for arsenic in rice cereal. The study recommends adopting the 0.2 mg/kg level as a practical industry target for heavy metal certification and risk mitigation. |
| Risk Management Recommendations | The article suggests that food industry stakeholders should voluntarily monitor and limit Asi to 0.2 mg/kg in rice cereal to protect infants and toddlers, supporting future regulatory action. |
Key implications
The arsenic in rice cereal risk assessment demonstrates that rice cereal is the dominant source of arsenic exposure for U.S. infants and toddlers, frequently exceeding safe chronic exposure levels at upper percentiles. Adoption of a 0.2 mg/kg arsenic limit in rice cereal is supported for industry certification, providing a science-based threshold to guide regulatory and voluntary safety actions for protecting young children’s health.
Citation
Shibata T, Meng C, Umoren J, West H. Risk Assessment of Arsenic in Rice Cereal and Other Dietary Sources for Infants and Toddlers in the U.S. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2016;13(4):361. doi:10.3390/ijerph13040361
Arsenic is a naturally occurring metalloid that ranks first on the ATSDR toxic substances list. Inorganic arsenic contaminates water, rice and consumer products, and exposure is linked to cardiovascular disease, cognitive deficits, low birth weight and cancer. HMTC’s stringent certification applies ALARA principles to protect vulnerable populations.
