SCIENCE CITY OF MUNOZ, Nueva Ecija – The
Philippine Rice Reseach Institute is seeking a full-blown investigation into
the possible presence of heavy, carcinogenic metals such as arsenic, cadmium
and lead in rice.
Joy Bartolome Duldulao, PhilRice
chemist and executive assistant, said the country should tap a specific agency
to monitor the levels of heavy metals in rice which have alarmed rice eaters in
some parts of the world.
Based
on the results of a study, there have been an increase in the levels of arsenic,
cadmium and lead in rice. The rice scare started in November 2012 amid reports
that tons of rice had been contaminated with arsenic.
A
month later, the PhilRice website published a report of Duldulao on the arsenic
content of Philippine rice wherein she reported that local rice stocks are
arsenic-free.
However,
Duldulao admitted that the study covered rice samples from only 10
rice-producing sites in the country.
“We
cannot categorically say that it (Philippine rice) is safe (from arsenic). It
might not be true in areas where there are mining and recent volcanic
activities,” Duldulao said.
The
scare was followed by reports of lead
and cadmium contamination in April and May 2013, which was attributed to
contamination from the environment. These three elements are known carcinogens,
or can cause cancer.
The
lead scare was triggered by a study made by Dr. Tsanangurayi Tongesayi, associate
professor at the Monmouth University. It showed that lead levels on US rice
imports from Asian and European countries exceed between 20 and 40 times the
"provisional total tolerable intake" for adults set by the US Food
and Drug Administration.
Duldulao
said that in the course of the study’s
review, it was found that the measurements were made using an X-ray
fluorescence spectrometer, an instrument with low accuracy, and which tended to
overestimate. Subsequently, the study was withdrawn by the researcher.
After
the study on lead levels in rice came out, the Philippine EcoWaste Coalition
also did a study on rice sacks. It showed that lead in some rice sacks were
exceedingly high, possibly due to the paint used on the labels.
“Though
the lead can rub off on the rice, we have to analyze the rice itself,” Duldulao
said.
Last
May 17, an international global rice website, Oryza.com, published a report
saying that the Food and Drug Administration of Guangzhou City in Southern
China has found excessive levels of cadmium in about 44.44 percent of rice
samples taken from different restaurants and food outlets in the city.
The
morning after, the South China Morning Post website posted the the news about cadmium-contaminated rice
samples from Guangzhuo. According to the news item, inspectors from Guangzhuo’s
Food and Drug Administration found rice samples that had cadmium levels higher
than specified in China’s food safety standards.
On
June 2, Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said that the 25,000 metric tons
of rice the country is set to import from China will be tested for cadmium
content through the customs quarantine process.
Duldulao
said China rice cannot be generalized as cadmium-contaminated unless it is from
Guangzhuo, which suffers from industrial pollution.
He
said that the Philippines has yet to set allowable levels of these heavy metals
in food.
To
limit exposure to these toxins from eating rice, Duldulao said three measures
can be done : wash rice thoroughly before cooking; pour off the water after
boiling; and never restrict one’s diet to rice alone.
He
said Pinoys may feast on other crops that also provide carbohydrates such as
corn, sweet potato, potato, squash and banana, among others. (Manny Galvez)
