More Arsenic Drama! Eating Rice While Pregnant Exposes Baby to It

Photo: Maren Caruso

Okay, so we mentioned there was arsenic found in some popular apple and grape juices, which was scary enough, but now add rice to the list. A recent study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences says rice grown in the United States exposes pregnant women to arsenic, a contaminant (and potential carcinogen) that crosses the placenta and therefore exposes baby too.

In the study, researchers collected pregnant women’s urine at their six month prenatal visits and found that those who ate rice regularly had higher levels of arsenic in their urine. The researchers say prenatal arsenic exposure has been associated with infant mortality, low birth weight, compromised immune function and increased mortality from lung cancer (later in life). They’re calling for more research on arsenic exposure during pregnancy and how to reduce its presence in rice, water and other things we consume.

Will you cut back on the rice after reading about this study?

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