DETERMINATION OF SOME ELEMENTS (Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Zn, Al, Cd, As, B, Ni, Pb) IN RICE AND RICE FLOUR RETAILED IN TURKEY

Abstract

Rice and rice products contain many essential elements. However, in addition to these, they may contain toxic elements. This research was performed with the aim of identifying the amounts of 12 different elements (Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Zn, Al, Cd, As, B, Ni, Pb) in rice and rice flours retailed in Turkey. The research used 44 types of rice and 6 types of rice flour. Total element amounts were identified using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP OES). The minimum, maximum, mean and standard error values in mu g/g for elements in the analyzed samples were identified as; Cr: 0.198; 3.372; 0.631 +/- 0.075; Cu: 0.524; 25.809; 2.903 +/- 0.521; Fe: 3.741; 151.319; 24.073 +/- 3.483; Mg: 97.217; 633.929; 182.675 +/- 12.3; Mn: 1.125; 15.008; 5.884 +/- 0.378; Zn: 2.018; 16.412; 8.725 +/- 0.574; Al: 0.015; 37.810; 4.608 +/- 0.771; Cd: 0.010; 0.104; 0.030 +/- 0.002; As: 0.711; 2.257; 1.499 +/- 0.054; B: 28.011; 143.147; 48.135 +/- 2.967; Ni: 0.110; 1.131; 0.379 +/- 0.03; Pb: 0.002; 0.549; 0.074 +/- 0.017, respectively. In conclusion, in terms of the analyzed elements, it was found that the top four elements with highest mean amounts in rice and rice flours were Mg, B, Fe and Zn. Mean amounts for toxic elements were in the order Al>As>Pb>Cd. In 12% of our samples, the Pb amount was identified to have a value above the legally-stated upper limit. As a result, the need to monitor rice originating in the Thrace region, especially, in terms of Pb accumulation should be noted.