Trace element contamination in rice and its potential health risks to consumers in North-Central Vietnam

Abstract This study assessed the potential health risks of five elements (Ni, Cr, As, Cd, and Pb) in rice collected from three provinces in North-Central Vietnam, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, and Ha Tinh. These provinces comprise areas with and/or without mining and industrial activities, focusing on two local population groups (adults and children under five years old). Trace elements were determined by an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The potential health risks were evaluated for different age groups using the estimated daily intakes (EDI), target hazard quotients (THQ), non-carcinogenic hazard quotients (HI), and target carcinogenic risks (TR). The highest element levels (mg kg−1 dry weight) were observed in Thanh Hoa for Cr (0.30 ± 0.106), As (0.13 ± 0.034) and for Pb (0.05 ± 0.015), and in Ha Tinh for Cd (0.06 ± 0.022). The highest estimated daily intakes (EDIs) of Cr (4.1 μg d−1), Ni (3.3 μg d−1), As (2.3 μg d−1), Cd (1.2 μg d−1), and Pb (0.32 μg d−1) were observed in several sites. The THQ of rice in three provinces showed a risk trend in the following order: Thanh Hoa > Ha Tinh > Nghe An. The HIs of trace elements revealed that As is a key component, with Cr and Cd as secondary risk factors in adults and children, with HIs being 1.5 times higher in girls under five than in other groups. The TR of Ni was much greater than that of Pb, and it was higher in children than adults, with the maximum risk levels of Ni and Pb were 3.0 x 10-3 and 2.7 x 10-6 for baby girls under the age of five in Ha Tinh and Thanh Hoa, respectively. The risk assessment of trace element dietary intake suggests that rice consumption poses significant health risks to the local population, both in non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic effects.