Although this blog tries to deal mainly with water quality and matters directly related to water quality testing, the following bit of information about dangerous levels of arsenic in food caught our attention and we felt compelled to post it:
“A lack of regulation means a third of baby rice on sale in the UK contains worryingly high levels of carcinogenic inorganic arsenic, according to researchers.
The study, carried out by scientists from the University of Aberdeen and published this month in the journal Environmental Pollution, said this meant some children could be getting six times the recommended inorganic arsenic for their weight.
The levels detected in some of the samples would be illegal in China, where there are stringent controls in place. But while there are European Union and American regulations for arsenic levels in drinking water, there are currently no laws to direct the amounts of arsenic allowed in food products.
Furthermore, current guidelines on intake are based on outdated research conducted before arsenic was found to be a carcinogen, according to the researchers.
This calls into question the need for am urgent review on the situation.
“It is apparent that inorganic arsenic levels in baby rice should be of concern,” said lead scientist, Andrew Meharg.
Read the full FoodProductionDaily.com story here.”
Pretty frightening stuff. We cannot help but wonder if the methodology used to test arsenic levels in soil with the Arsenic Quick test kit could also work for testing arsenic levels in certain types of foods.
Can you please tell me how you can have a detection level of 0.0 ppb?
I have an Atomic Absorption Spectrometer, (cost me 30K) and I am NELAC accredited for Arsenic in drinking water. I have an MDL (method detection limit) of o.002 mg/L., or 2 parts per billion. How can you get a 0.0 MDL with a test kit? Also, are you testing total arsenic? (+3 & + 5?).
According to the literature, the Arsenic Quick line of test kits detects free dissolved +3 and +5 arsenic. It does not detect organically bound arsenic. With regard to the other matter, we suggest you take that matter up with the makers of the Arsenic Quick test kits. We suspect, however, that they will refer you to the EPA/ETV Verification Report and the EPA/ETV Verification Statement.
Sorry we don’t have any more concrete answers to your questions.