Risk assessment of Cd exposure through consumption of jasmine rice

Concentrations of cadmium (Cd) in 46 jasmine rice samples were measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS). The rice samples were digested using microwave-assisted acid digestion prior to ICP-MS analysis. The recovery for the analysis of Cd in rice samples was higher than 80%. The mean Cd concentration found in jasmine rice samples of 0.0119 mg kg^-1 was obtained. Cd concentration in the studied samples was lower than 0.4 mg kg^-1 (Codex maximum level for Cd). Risk assessment of Cd in consumption of jasmine rice for Thai population was presented. The values of estimated weekly intake (EWI) of jasmine rice for Thai population were 0.25 μg kg^-1 BW week^-1 (male) and 0.30 μg kg^-1 BW week^-1 (female). The values of estimated monthly intake of 1.07 μg kg^-1 BW month^-1 (males) and 1.28 μg kg^-1 BW month^-1 (females) were less than 25 μg kg^-1 BW (the provisional tolerable monthly intake, PTMI). This revealed that it is safe for both Thai males and females in jasmine rice consumption in term of Cd. Moreover, the non-carcinogenic risks evaluated through hazard quotient (HQ) simulations were 0.037 for males and 0.044 for females, indicating no harmful effects from Cd exposure via jasmine rice consumption in the Thai population, as the mean and 90th percentile of the simulated HQ were below the HQ threshold of 1.