Arsenic-polluted water linked to cancer in India

By Medhavi Arora, CNN

Updated 0743 GMT (1543 HKT) May 1, 2017

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Because rice takes up arsenic more readily than other grains, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is looking at the effects of long-term exposure to very low amounts of arsenic in rice and rice products. Rice's importance as a staple in regions around the world makes it a priority for food researchers. <br /><br />In April, the FDA <a href="http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodborneIllnessContaminants/Metals/ucm367263.htm" target="_blank">proposed a limit of 100 parts per billion of inorganic arsenic</a> in infant rice cereal. <br /><br />Click through the gallery for more foods that can contain traces of arsenic, according to studies. <br />
Photos: Foods in which arsenic may be present
Because rice takes up arsenic more readily than other grains, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is looking at the effects of long-term exposure to very low amounts of arsenic in rice and rice products. Rice's importance as a staple in regions around the world makes it a priority for food researchers.

In April, the FDA proposed a limit of 100 parts per billion of inorganic arsenic in infant rice cereal.

Click through the gallery for more foods that can contain traces of arsenic, according to studies.
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In a <a href="http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/1104619/" target="_blank">2012 study</a> by researchers at Dartmouth College, products that listed organic brown rice syrup as a primary ingredient, such as some <a href="http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/health/2012/02/16/exp-cohen-and-arsenic-in-baby-formula.cnn.html">toddler formulas and cereal bars</a>, tested positive for higher levels of arsenic than products that didn't contain the ingredient or contained less of it.
Photos: Foods in which arsenic may be present
In a 2012 study by researchers at Dartmouth College, products that listed organic brown rice syrup as a primary ingredient, such as some toddler formulas and cereal bars, tested positive for higher levels of arsenic than products that didn't contain the ingredient or contained less of it.
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The <a href="http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/1104619/" target="_blank">Dartmouth study tested</a> two toddler formulas that listed organic brown rice syrup as a primary ingredient and 15 that did not. The study found that the formulas in which the syrup was a primary ingredient contained 20 times more arsenic than the other formulas. The baby pictured above is not associated with the study.
Photos: Foods in which arsenic may be present
The Dartmouth study tested two toddler formulas that listed organic brown rice syrup as a primary ingredient and 15 that did not. The study found that the formulas in which the syrup was a primary ingredient contained 20 times more arsenic than the other formulas. The baby pictured above is not associated with the study.
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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration proposed in 2013 to <a href="http://www.fda.gov/Food/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/ucm271595.htm" target="_blank">limit the amount of inorganic arsenic</a> in apple juice to 10 parts per billion, the same level set for water. Because arsenic-based pesticides were commonly used in U.S. agricultural production up until 1970, trace levels of arsenic can be detected in some agricultural settings, which could lead to small amounts of arsenic in certain foods and beverages, including apples, according to the FDA.
Photos: Foods in which arsenic may be present
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration proposed in 2013 to limit the amount of inorganic arsenic in apple juice to 10 parts per billion, the same level set for water. Because arsenic-based pesticides were commonly used in U.S. agricultural production up until 1970, trace levels of arsenic can be detected in some agricultural settings, which could lead to small amounts of arsenic in certain foods and beverages, including apples, according to the FDA.
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It is common for some arsenic to be found in seafood. However, <a href="http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/csem/csem.asp?csem=1&po=5" target="_blank">higher concentrations of dietary organic arsenic</a> may be found in bivalve mollusks (clams, oysters, mussels) and crustaceans (crabs and lobsters), according to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. The organic forms of arsenic found in these types of seafood are generally considered nontoxic.
Photos: Foods in which arsenic may be present
It is common for some arsenic to be found in seafood. However, higher concentrations of dietary organic arsenic may be found in bivalve mollusks (clams, oysters, mussels) and crustaceans (crabs and lobsters), according to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. The organic forms of arsenic found in these types of seafood are generally considered nontoxic.
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As part of its comprehensive look at rice in 2012, the FDA tested not only rice for arsenic levels, but also products containing rice. That includes <a href="http://www.fda.gov/food/foodborneillnesscontaminants/metals/ucm319870.htm" target="_blank">beer</a>, which sometimes uses <a href="http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2014/01/fda-data-show-arsenic-in-rice-juice-and-beer/index.htm" target="_blank">rice as an ingredient</a>.
Photos: Foods in which arsenic may be present
As part of its comprehensive look at rice in 2012, the FDA tested not only rice for arsenic levels, but also products containing rice. That includes beer, which sometimes uses rice as an ingredient.
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The <a href="http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodborneIllnessContaminants/Metals/ucm275452.htm" target="_blank">FDA analyzed 142 samples of pear juice</a> and pear juice concentrate from 2005 to 2011. "Of these, 23 had levels of inorganic arsenic at or above 23 parts per billion, the level of concern for inorganic arsenic in pear juice." Those products were recalled, denied entry into the United States, or in a few cases the company received a warning letter.
Photos: Foods in which arsenic may be present
The FDA analyzed 142 samples of pear juice and pear juice concentrate from 2005 to 2011. "Of these, 23 had levels of inorganic arsenic at or above 23 parts per billion, the level of concern for inorganic arsenic in pear juice." Those products were recalled, denied entry into the United States, or in a few cases the company received a warning letter.
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Story highlights

  • About 10 million people in Bihar, India, suffer from arsenic poisoning
  • This is caused by contaminated drinking water
  • Up to 17 districts have groundwater with arsenic concentration above the permissible limit

(CNN)Millions of people in Bihar, India, are showing symptoms of arsenic poisoning, which can be linked to cancer, due to consumption of contaminated drinking water.

The symptoms arise after many years of exposure, say experts.
    The state of Bihar, in eastern India, is one of the country's most impoverished states. More than 10 million people in the state are estimated to be threatened with arsenic poisoning or arsenicosis from contaminated groundwater.