Parent and halogenated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in rice and implications for human health in China

• Published in: Environmental pollution (1987) 2012-09, Vol.168, p.80-86
• Main Authors: Ding, Chao, Ni, Hong-Gang, Zeng, Hui
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: acceptable risk; Adolescent; adolescents; Adult; adults; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Cancer; Child; Child, Preschool; children; China; China - epidemiology; Chinese people; Diet - statistics & numerical data; Environmental Exposure - analysis; Environmental Exposure - statistics & numerical data; Exposure; Female; Food toxicology; Halogenated; Health risk; Human; Human exposure; human health; Humans; Ingestion; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Neoplasms - epidemiology; Oryza - chemistry; Parent and halogenated PAHs; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons - analysis; Rice; Risk; Risk Assessment; Toxicology; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0269-7491; 1873-6424
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2012.04.025

Rice is the staple food for approximate two thirds of the Chinese population. However, human exposure to parent and halogenated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) via rice consumption is still not clear for Chinese people so far. The goals of this work are to assess human exposure to PAHs and halogenated PAHs (HPAHs) via rice ingestion and the cancer risk for Chinese population. 16 PAHs and eight HPAHs were determined in rice samples collected from 18 provinces in China. In general terms, the general population in China was exposed to higher levels of PAHs via rice ingestion in comparison to that via cereals for other countries. The cancer risk values induced by exposure to PAHs and HPAHs for male and female on each age group were between the priority risk level (10−4) and the acceptable risk level (10−6). Children faced the highest cancer risk, followed by adolescents and adults. ► Dietary exposure to PAHs via rice ingestion for Chinese population was higher than that via cereals in other countries. ► The cancer risk induced by PAHs and HPAHs intakes via rice consumption were between 10−6 and 10−4. ► Children faced the highest cancer risk, followed by adolescents and adults. ► Given all exposure routes were considered, the real cancer risk for Chinese people would be greater. Human exposure to parent and halogenated PAHs via rice ingestion and the cancer risk for Chinese population were assessed.