Heavy and Trace Elements in Some Varieties of Rice Consumed in Dhaka City of Bangladesh

Author(s): Farzana Yasmin, Hasina Akhter Simol, Gazi Nurun Nahar Sultana

Rice is the major staple food for Bangladeshi people for which it is urgent to determine the metal nutritional status as well toxicity of rice available in the local market. Therefore, the content of trace elements and heavy metals such as; Copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn), Iron (Fe), Nickel (Ni), Cobalt (Co), Cadmium (Cd) and Lead (Pb) were analyzed in rice samples purchased from the major markets in Dhaka City using Atomic Absorption Flame Spectrometry (AAFS). Microwave assisted digestion method was used for sample preparation to determine trace and heavy metals. The metals detected in rice samples ranged from 0.5 to 3.5 mg/kg of Cu, 3.63 to 82.38 mg/kg of Zn, 1.13 to 14.38 mg/kg of Fe 1.63 to 12.50 mg/kg of Mn, and 0 to 2.0 mg/kg of Ni. Whereas, the concentration of Pb and Cd were within < 0.05mg/Kg. Overall, the present study reveals that the levels of the trace elements were generally below permissible limits. However, Fe was found to be higher in some samples. Thus it is apparent that the metal concentration in rice of Dhaka is within the safety limit of consumption.

Processed Rice, Heavy Metals, Trace Elements, Dhaka City and AAFS

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