by Sandee LaMotte
Updated May 15, 2025
The type of rice and how it’s grown and processed can impact levels of arsenic and other heavy metals, experts say. Brown and wild rice often contain the highest levels because the milling process used to create white rice removes the outer layers of the hull, where heavy metals are concentrated.
*The type of rice and how it’s grown and processed can impact levels of arsenic and other heavy metals: 쌀의 종류과 재배 방식 그리고 가공 방식이 비소와 다른 중금속 수준에 영향을 미칠 수 있다.
*brown and wild rice: 현미와 야생 벼
*milling process: 도정 과정
*the outer layers of the hull, where heavy metals are concentrated: 중금속이 집중되어 있는, 껍질의 외층
Lab testing found purchased samples of US-grown brown rice contained 151 parts per billion of heavy metals — 129 of that due to arsenic. Arborio rice grown in Italy, which is typically used to make risotto, and white rice grown in the Southeast US (often labeled as simply “USA”) were almost as high in total heavy metals as brown rice, the report said.
*151 parts per billion: 10억분의 151, 151ppb
*Arborio (rice): 아르보리오 (알갱이의 길이가 짧은 이탈이아산 쌀, 리조또에 사용)
Arborio rice from Italy contained 101 parts per billion of arsenic — the total heavy metal load in the purchased samples was 142 parts per billion. White rice grown in the US contained 95 parts per billion of arsenic, with a total heavy metal count of 118 parts per billion.
*the total heavy metal load: 전체 중금속 양
Basmati rice from India, jasmine rice from Thailand and California-grown sushi and Calrose rice (a form of sushi rice) were at or below the 100 parts per billion levels set by the FDA for arsenic in infant rice cereals. However, the Indian basmati and Italian Arborio varieties contained the highest average levels of cadmium.
*Basmati (rice): 바스마티 쌀 (낟알이 길고 향내가 나는 쌀)
*jasmine rice: 재스민 쌀
*California-grown sushi (rice): 캘리포니아에서 자란 스시 쌀
*sushi: 초밥
*Calrose rice: 칼로스 쌀 (스시 쌀의 일종)
*the Indian basmati and Italian Arborio varieties contained the highest average levels of cadmium: 인도산 바스마티와 이탈리아산 아르보리오 품종들은 카드뮴의 평균 수치가 높았다.
The California-grown rice had the lowest overall heavy metal content — 65 parts per billion, with 55 parts per billion from arsenic — making it an excellent choice to reduce overall exposure, Houlihan said.
*overall heavy metal content: 종합적인 중금속 내용물
*making it an excellent choice to reduce overall exposure: 그것을 전체적인 노출을 줄이기 위한 뛰어난 선택지가 되게 하며
Consumers should be wary, however, of pre-cooked rice, including instant (one-minute and five-minute rice), par-boiled (10-minute rice), and ready-to-heat-and-eat packaged rice, she said.
*be wary of ~ : ~을 조심하다, ~을 경계하다
*pre-cooked: 미리 어느 정도 익혀 놓은 (반조리 식품)
*instant: 즉각적인; 인스턴트의
*par-boiled: 반숙한; (채소를) 살짝 익힌, 살짝 데친
*ready-to-heat-and-eat: 바로 데워서 먹을 수 있는, 인스턴트의; 기성 식품
“Studies have shown the processing used to create instant rice can create additional toxins, and the ready-to-heat products are cooked inside the plastic containers, potentially releasing toxic chemicals,” Houlihan said.
*additional toxins: 추가적인 독소들
*cooked inside the plastic containers, potentially releasing toxic chemicals: 잠재적으로 독성 화학물질을 방출하는 플라스틱 그릇 속에서 조리된
While the report does list the names of the 105 brands tested, that’s not what’s important when choosing rice with the lowest levels of heavy metals, she added.
“Results between brands didn’t tend to vary,” Houlihan said. “The controlling factors for avoiding heavy metal levels seem to be the rice variety and the country of origin, not the brand of rice. So make sure you know where your rice comes from.
*Results between brands didn’t tend to vary: 브랜드 사이의 결과는 별 차이가 없었습니다
*The controlling factors for avoiding heavy metal levels seem to be the rice variety and the country of origin, not the brand of rice: 중금속 수치를 피하기 위한 지배 요인들은 쌀의 품종과 쌀의 출신 국가이지, 브랜드가 아닌 것처럼 보입니다.
”Unfortunately, not all brands label the source of their product, so you’ll have to do some shopping to find those that do,” she added.
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