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 outsid e of Asia were also included during the period of 1990 to 1995. The sa mples 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 As ia was 55.70 and 2.67 ng/g, respectively, and 133.20 and 0.88 ng/g out side 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 c ontents in rice for local consumption depending on the areas in the wo rld, and that there is no significant changes in Cd levels in rice har vested in Japan over the past 10 years.