Abstract
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•MeHg and total Hg were measured in 87 rice and rice products from European markets.•9 baby rice products among 19 samples were validated by two orthogonal methods.•MeHg in precooked baby rice shows a higher proportion of MeHg versus total Hg.•European rice shows significantly higher variability than rice from other origins.•A significant number of rice samples was above 10% of the PTWI.
Rice is known to accumulate methylmercury (MeHg) in the rice grains. MeHg as a neurotoxin impacts on the human central nervous systems and especially on the developing brain. In this exploratory study, 87 commercial rice products sold in Europe, including nine baby-rice products, were analyzed for total Hg and MeHg content. MeHg concentration in all rice products investigated range from 0.11 to 6.45μgkg−1 with an average value of 1.91±1.07μgkg−1 and baby-rice is not significantly different from other rice products. Total Hg ranges from 0.53 to 11.1μgkg−1 with an average of 3.04±2.07μgkg−1. MeHg concentrations in all rice products studied in this work would not exceed the provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI). 30% of all commercial market rice products exceeded 10% of the PTWI calculated for toddlers or 13% of products for adults with rice based diet.