| In order to assess heavy metals (cadmium, mercury and lead) content in rice in Taiwan, rice samples acquired form the rice millers via local health personnel from February to October, 2006. Eighty-six samples of the first crop rice and seventythree samples of the second crop rice were analyzed. The results showed that the total average content of cadmium in rice was 0.05 ppm (N.D.~0.16 ppm), the average contents of mercury and lead were 0.002 ppm (N.D. ~0.008 ppm) and 0.02 ppm (N.D. ~0.06 ppm), respectively. The average contents of cadmium, mercury and lead for the first crop rice were 0.05 ppm (0.01~0.13 ppm), 0.002 ppm (N.D. ~0.008 ppm) and 0.02 ppm (N.D. ~0.06 ppm), respectively. The average contents of cadmium, mercury and lead for the second crop rice were 0.05 ppm (N.D. ~0.06 ppm), 0.001 ppm (N.D. ~0.007 ppm) and 0.02 ppm (N.D. ~0.06 ppm), respectively. In this investigation, all rice samples have been shown of good safety. The contents of cadmium, mercury and lead in rice were all in compliance with the regulation, set by the Department of Health, Executive Yuan. |