Loading...
Publication
Embedded health risk from arsenic in globally traded rice
| Name: | Description: | Size: | Format: | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.54 MB | Adobe PDF |
Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
International food trade is fundamental to globalfood security but with often negative consequences in theproducing country. We propose a method of quantifyingflows ofinorganic arsenic (iAs) and embedded increased lifetime cancerrisks (EHR) at a global scale, where negative impacts are felt onthe importing country. Computations were made for 153countries. Vietnam exports the most iAs embedded in rice (796kg/year) followed by India (788 kg/year), Thailand (485 kg/year),and the United States (323 kg/year). We show that continentalChina, Indonesia, and Malaysia have the highest imports of iAs(292, 174, and 123 kg/year, respectively). Bangladesh rankshighest in EHR followed by Vietnam and Cambodia (150, 141, and 111 per 100,000, respectively). Countries that dependexclusively on imported rice are importing a substantial amount of risk, as, e.g., Kiribati and Solomon Islands (57 and 53 per100,000, respectively). We discuss the potential policy options for reducing population dietary health risks by well-balancedapportioning of rice sources. This study targets policy design solutions based on health gains, rather than on safe levels of the riskfactor alone.
Description
Keywords
Rice Arsenic Embedded health risks International trade
Citation
Publisher
American Chemical Society