Concentration and Distribution of Toxic and Essential Elements in Traditional Rice Varieties of Sri Lanka Grown on an Anuradhapura District Farm

Traditional Sri Lankan rice varieties, often favored for their perceived health benefits, exhibit significant variability in cadmium concentrations, with one store-bought sample (Suwadel) containing potentially unsafe levels (113±13 μg kg−1). Elemental imaging revealed that lead is primarily stored in the rice bran, which is removed during polishing, while cadmium is distributed in the edible portion of the grain. Essential elements were generally higher in traditional varieties compared to non-traditional ones, suggesting a potential nutritional advantage for nutrient-deficient communities. However, selenium levels were too low to meet minimum recommended intake, despite its protective role in kidney health. This study provides a one-time cross-sectional dataset on elemental concentrations in eleven rice samples from Anuradhapura district, a hotspot for chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology (CKDu), using methods that could be applied to more comprehensive research under controlled conditions.

Lockwood, T. E., Banati, R. B., Nikagolla, C., Violi, J. P., & Bishop, D. P. (2023). Concentration and Distribution of Toxic and Essential Elements in Traditional Rice Varieties of Sri Lanka Grown on an Anuradhapura District Farm. Biological Trace Element Research, 202(6), 2891–2899. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-023-03847-1