Piyawat Saipan

Total and inorganic arsenic in rice and rice bran purchased in Thailand.

Concentrations of total and inorganic arsenic were determined in 180 samples of polished and brown rice of three rice types, namely white, jasmine, and sticky, and 44 samples of rice bran from these three rice types purchased in Thailand. Concentrations (expressed in nanograms per gram) of inorganic arsenic in polished white, jasmine, and sticky rice were 68.3 ± 17.6 (with a range of 45.0 to 106), 68.4 ± 15.6 (41.7 to 101), and 75.9 ± 24.8 (43.5 to 156), respectively, while those in the three brown rice samples were 124 ± 34.4 (74.5 to 193), 120 ± 31.6 (73.1 to 174), and 131 ± 35.6 (78.0 to 188), respectively. Inorganic arsenic concentrations (expressed in nanograms per gram) in rice bran produced from the three rice types were 633 ± 182 (375 to 919), 599 ± 112 (447 to 824), and 673 ± 195 (436 to 1,071), respectively. Rice bran contained concentrations of total and inorganic arsenic approximately seven and nine times higher, respectively, than those found in the corresponding polished rice. The levels of inorganic arsenic in the three rice types of both polished and brown rice were within the only published regulatory limit of 200 ng/g.

Total and inorganic arsenic in freshwater fish and prawn in Thailand.

Total and inorganic arsenic levels were determined in 120 samples of eight freshwater animal species collected from five distribution centers in the central region of Thailand between January and March 2011. Eight species with the highest annual catch, consisting of seven fish species and one prawn species, were analyzed. Concentrations of inorganic arsenic (on a wet weight basis) ranged from 0.010 μg/g in giant prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) to 0.230 μg/g in striped snakehead (Channa striata). Climbing perch (Anabas testudineus) exhibited the highest mean concentrations of total arsenic (0.459 ± 0.137 μg/g), inorganic arsenic (0.121 ± 0.044 μg/g), and percentage of inorganic arsenic (26.2%). Inorganic arsenic levels found in freshwater animals in this study were much lower than the Thai regulatory standard of 2 μg/g.

Estimated Daily Intake of Aflatoxin M1 in Thailand

Aflatoxins are a group of mycotoxins produced by certain species of Aspergillus. These molds grow on a variety of food and feed commodities and produce aflatoxins under appropriate temperature and humidity (Jay et al., 2005). Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is the most potent hepatocarcinogen of this group of mycotoxins. Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) is a hydroxylated metabolite of AFB1 and is secreted in the milk of mammals that have eaten contaminated foods. AFM1 is also a hepatocarcinogen and is classified in Group 1 (carcinogenic to humans) by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC, 2002). Exposure to AFM1 through milk products is considered to be a serious public health problem. Several countries have established regulatory limits for AFM1 in raw milk and milk products, which vary from country to country. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), there are 60 countries that have established regulatory limits for AFM1; the values vary from ND (not detectable) to 15 μg/L (FAO, 2004). The two most prevalent limits are 0.05 μg/L (34 countries) and 0.5 μg/L (22 countries). The European Community has set the maximum permitted level for AFM1 in infant formulae and follow-on formulae, including infant milk and follow-on milk, at 0.025 μg/kg, and in raw milk and heat-treated milk at 0.05 μg/kg (European Commission, 2006). The U.S. regulatory limit for AFM1 is 0.5 μg/L (FAO, 2004). However, several countries, including Thailand, have not yet established regulatory limits for AFM1. The Notification of the Ministry of Public Health No. 265 – the law that regulates the quality of milk products in Thailand – only states that ‘‘...milk products may be contaminated with aflatoxins at a level that is not harmful to human health’’ (Ministry of Public Health, 2003). A national food consumption survey was conducted in Thailand during the years 2002–2004; 18,746 participants were divided into five age groups (Groups 1–5): 0–3, >3–9, >9–19, >19–65, and >65 yr (National Bureau of Agricultural Commodity and Food Standards, 2006). The survey showed that the consumption amounts of four types of milk products – milk powder, school milk, commercial pasteurized milk, and UHT (ultra-high-temperature) milk – comprised approximately 93% of all milk products consumed by the Thai population

Occurrence of Aflatoxin M1 in Raw and Pasteurized Goat Milk in Thailand

Aflatoxins are a group of structurally related mycotoxins produced by certain species of the genus Aspergillus, particularly A. flavus, A. parasiticus and A. nomius, which can grow on a variety of food and feed commodities [1]. Aflatoxin production is influenced by several fac‐ tors: for example, temperature and humidity [2]. It has been shown that aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is the most potent hepatocarcinogen of this group of mycotoxins. Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) is a hydroxylated metabolite of AFB1 produced by the hepatic microsomal cytochrome P450, and is secreted in the milk of mammals that have consumed AFB1-contaminated foods. AFM1 is also a hepatocarcinogen and is classified in Group 1 as carcinogenic to humans by the International Agency for Research on Cancer [3]. In terms of food safety and public health concerns, exposure to AFM1 through milk products is considered to be a serious problem.

Inorganic Arsenic in Rice and Rice Bran: Health Implications

Abstract Rice is a staple food for people in many countries in all parts of the world. Arsenic in food, including rice, is present in several forms that have different toxicities. Inorganic arsenic species (AsIII and AsV) are the most toxic forms of arsenic present in food. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified inorganic arsenic, but not organic arsenic, in Group 1, as carcinogenic to humans. There has been increasing concern about the health implications regarding exposure to inorganic arsenic through rice consumption. An extensive review of published reports has shown that no epidemiological studies have been conducted indicating the health effects associated with the ingestion of inorganic arsenic through consumption of rice. Several studies suggested that drinking water containing high levels of inorganic arsenic plays a major role in the health risk of cancers among people residing in arsenic-contaminated areas. Two leading research groups in this field have concluded that “At present, it is impossible to fully assess the health risk of arsenic in rice,” and “Even if epidemiological studies were to be initiated, it would take decades to understand how elevated arsenic in rice affects lifetime health outcomes”.