Scientists warn of risk of arsenic in rice

Scientists at Queens University in Belfast are warning of the risks of arsenic in rice, in particular for babies and young children.

They have found that using plenty of water during cooking can significantly cut the level of arsenic.

Coffee percolators have been found to be particularly good for cooking rice.

Inorganic arsenic is found in all types of rice, where its grown under flooded conditions which causes soil minerals, including arsenic, to be absorbed by the plant.

A range of health problems including bladder and lung cancer can be caused by arsenic consumption.

Professor Andy Mehang of Queens University said that babies in particular can be at risk.

"There's more concern over young children," he said.

He added: "Their exposure to arsenic from rice is three times higher than adults, so I'd be especially careful to avoid as much as possible a reliance on rice products for young children - and there are many of them out there."