The Concentration of Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs) in Indonesian Rice and Their Health Risk Assessment

This study assessed the exposure to Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs) Cd, Pb, As, and iAs in rice collected from 30 provinces in Indonesia using data from the national Total Diet Study (TDS). As rice is the main staple food and a major source of contaminant intake, the study estimated dietary exposure and evaluated the associated health risks across different age groups. The objective was to estimate exposure to PTEs (Cd, Pb, As and iAs) through rice consumption and to evaluate their associated health risks across various age groups. Cd concentrations ranged from 0 to 136 µg/kg, Pb from 0 to 684 µg/kg, total As from 0 to 609 µg/kg, and iAs from 0 to 267 µg/kg. On average, all levels were below the maximum limits set by Codex Alimentarius Standard 193-1995 (2023 revision). Cooking reduced Cd content by 76% and increased Pb levels by 1403%, while As levels remained unchanged. Estimated daily exposures reached 0.134-0.248 µg/kg bw/day for Cd, 0.258-0.475 µg/kg bw/day for Pb, 0.348-0.642 µg/kg bw/day for total As, and 0.236-0.435 µg/kg bw/day for iAs. Exposure to Cd posed a minimal health risk, remaining below the Provisional Tolerable Monthly Intake (PTMI). In contrast, Pb exposure showed a Margin of Exposure (MOE) greater than 1, suggesting a low level of concern as defined by the EFSA CONTAM Panel, while iAs exposure resulted in an MOE below 10,000, indicating a possible health risk. Pb exposure from cooked rice consumption may pose a potential risk of IQ reductions of up to 2.59 ± 0.95 points in toddlers and 5.27 ± 1.93 points in children. These findings highlight the need to implement food safety risk management strategies in rice production and processing, particularly given the high rice consumption in Indonesia.