Fish consumption is considered the primary pathway for MeHg (MeHg) exposure; however, MeHg exposure also occurs through rice ingestion. Rice is grown in an aquatic environment and although documented MeHg concentrations in rice are lower compared to fish tissue, human exposures exceed international guidelines in some regions where rice is a staple food and rice MeHg levels are elevated. Studies concerning human health exposure to MeHg should also include populations where maternal MeHg exposure occurs through ingestion of rice. Rice does not contain long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, which are associated with confounding developmental outcomes in offspring. Rice is also a staple food for more than half the world's population; therefore, it is critical to investigate the potential health risks of maternal ingestion of rice to the developing fetus, the most susceptible population to the deleterious effects of MeHg. Data concerning MeHg in rice are reviewed and micronutrients in rice are discussed. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Publication name	ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION　　Volume: 159　　Issue: 4　　Pages: 1017-1022　　Published: APR 2011
Author(s)	Rothenberg, Sarah E.; Feng, Xinbin; Li, Ping
Corresponding author	Rothenberg, Sarah E  rothenberg.sarah@gmail.com, fengxinbin@vip.skleg.cn  Chinese Acad Sci, Inst Geochem, State Key Lab Environm Geochem, 46 Guanshui Lu, Guiyang 550002, Peoples R China