a b s t r a c t
We evaluated total and inorganic arsenic levels in long grain rice and rice based baby foods on Finnish
market. Inorganic arsenic was analysed with an HPLC–ICP-MS system. The total arsenic concentration
was determined with an ICP-MS method. In this study, the inorganic arsenic levels in long grain rice varied
from 0.09 to 0.28 mg/kg (n = 8) and the total arsenic levels from 0.11 to 0.65 mg/kg. There was a good
correlation between the total and inorganic arsenic levels in long grain rice at a confidence level of 95%.
The total arsenic levels of rice-based baby foods were in the range 0.02 – 0.29 mg/kg (n = 10), however,
the level of inorganic arsenic could only be quantitated in four samples, on average they were 0.11 mg/kg.
Our estimation of inorganic arsenic intake from long grain rice and rice-based baby food in Finland indicate
that in every age group the intake is close to the lowest BMDL0.1 value 0.3 lg/kg bw/day set by EFSA.
According to our data, the intake of inorganic arsenic should be more extensively evaluated.