Comparative analysis of zinc, copper, cadmium, and arsenic accumulation in forage-grain rice: Implications for food safety and health risks

Yimei Wang; Shuai Huang; Weixu Huo; Xinghui Li; Xiaofei Shi; Kaige Gao; Yafan Zhao; Matthew Tom Harrison; Jing Zhang; Xiaoyan Song; Quanzhi Zhao; Ting Peng

doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2024.142436

Comparative analysis of zinc, copper, cadmium, and arsenic accumulation in forage-grain rice: Implications for food safety and health risks

Food Chem. 2024 Dec 10:468:142436. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2024.142436. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Yimei Wang¹, Shuai Huang¹, Weixu Huo¹, Xinghui Li¹, Xiaofei Shi¹, Kaige Gao¹, Yafan Zhao¹, Matthew Tom Harrison², Jing Zhang³, Xiaoyan Song⁴, Quanzhi Zhao⁴, Ting Peng⁵

Affiliations

¹ Henan Key Laboratory of Rice Molecular Breeding and High Efficiency Production/ Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops/Henan Center of Crop Genomics and Rice Engineering, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China.
² Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture, University of Tasmania, Newnham, Launceston, Tasmania 7248, Australia.
³ Henan Key Laboratory of Rice Molecular Breeding and High Efficiency Production/ Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops/Henan Center of Crop Genomics and Rice Engineering, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁴ College of Agriculture, Guizhou University, Guizhou 550025, China.
⁵ Henan Key Laboratory of Rice Molecular Breeding and High Efficiency Production/ Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops/Henan Center of Crop Genomics and Rice Engineering, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 39675271
DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2024.142436

Abstract

Forage-grain ratoon rice (FG-RR) systems, integrating grain and forage production, promise a sustainable approach to enhance food security and livestock development in marginal regions where ratoon rice (T-RR) is traditionally cultivated. Here, we quantified zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), arsenic (As), and cadmium (Cd) concentrations in ratoon crop grains from 23 rice varieties at four mowing stages (heading, milk-ripening, dry-ripening, and full maturity) of the main crop. Early mowing at the milk-ripening stage significantly reduced As levels (16.59-46.83 %) and increased Zn (0.61-18.21 %) and Cu (6.81-55.44 %) concentrations, improving nutritional quality. However, Cd levels were elevated (2.10-262.66 %) in FG-RR compared with T-RR. Notably, the impact of mowing stages on the metal concentrations was greater than that of rice varieties. These findings suggest that mowing at the milk-ripening stage enhances the safety and sustainability of FG-RR systems, ensuring improved nutrition and reduced As-related heavy health risks.

Keywords: Forage-grain ratoon rice; Heavy metal; Metal pollution index; Mowing stage; Target hazard quotient.