Fast Digestion Analysis of Lead and Cadmium in Rice Using GFAAS with Longitudinal Zeeman

Lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) are common pollutants in grains and are extremely toxic. Pb is harmful to human organs even at trace levels, and once it accumulates in the body, it causes inhibition of hemoglobin formation and neurological disorders.1 Cd is even classified as human carcinogen [Group 1 – according to International Agency for Research on Cancer].2 It is reported that Cd leads to severe kidney problems which can be fatal,3 and is also associated with brittle bones and liver problems. Rice, as the most widely consumed cereal grain in Asia/China, can quickly pick up Pb and Cd from toxins, pesticides and fertilizers in the soil, thereby endangering the health of millions of people through their diet. Therefore, it is extremely important to develop a simple, reliable method to monitor the levels of Pb and Cd in rice.