Cadmium contents in rice samples from various areas in the world.

Rice samples consumed by local populations were collected in 17 areas in the world, mostly from Asia, i.e. ten areas, but eight areas outside of Asia were also included during the period of 1990 to 1995. The samples amounted to 1546 in total, and were analyzed for cadmium (Cd) by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. The data show that the highest and the lowest geometric means of Cd contents in rice from Asia was 55.70 and 2.67 ng/g, respectively, and 133.20 and 0.88 ng/g outside of Asia. The geometric mean Cd contents in rice from Japan was 55.70 ng/g, which is essentially similar to the levels determined in the early 1980s. We conclude that a substantial difference exists in Cd contents in rice for local consumption depending on the areas in the world, and that there is no significant changes in Cd levels in rice harvested in Japan over the past 10 years.