Rice Consumption and Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Skin in a United States Population

Rice contains arsenic, a known skin carcinogen. Rice intake has been associated with arsenic-related skin lesions in South Asia, but its association with skin cancers is as yet unknown.

We aimed to investigate whether rice intake contributes to urinary arsenic concentration and risk of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the skin in a U.S. population.

Rice consumption was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire administered as part of a population-based case-control study of 487 SCC cases and 462 age- and gender-matched controls. Arsenic concentration in household tap water and urine samples were measured using inductively coupled mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and high-resolution ICP-MS, respectively. Odds ratios (OR) for SCC associated with the frequency of rice consumption were estimated using logistic regression, with adjustment for age, gender, and caloric intake.

Those who reported any rice consumption had higher urinary arsenic concentrations than those who did not consume rice, and the association was most pronounced among those with <1μg/L arsenic in their household water (19.2% increase in total urinary arsenic, 95% CI: 5.0, 35.3%). Any rice consumption was associated with a 1.5-fold (95% CI: 1.1, 2.0) higher odds of SCC compared with those who reported no rice consumption, and the relation appeared to be largely among those with <1μg/L water arsenic.

Rice consumption may be related to the occurrence of SCC in the United States, especially among those with relatively low drinking water arsenic exposure. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP1065.