Evaluation of the Nutritional Value, Toxins and Pollutants in Mazandaran Rice and Detection of the Rice Health Level

Abstract— As insecticides, fungicides, heavy metals, and aflatoxins enter the food chain, they cause adverse effects on living organisms and humans. Given that rice is a widely-consumed food in Iran, the present study aimed to investigate the probability of the existence of insecticides, fungicides, heavy metals, and aflatoxins, as well as the nutritional value of rice in Mazandaran province. To this end, four cultivars of rice, namely Tarom, Fajr, Neda, and Shiroodi rice were collected from farms in the region, and after preparation, the concentration of pollutants in rice was measured in different ways in the laboratory. SPSS 25 software was used to analyze data. Based on the findings, the average nutritional value of four cultivars of rice was high in terms of protein (8.575 ± 0.298 g), fiber (less than 1), fat (1.2 g), carbohydrates (81.725 ± 0.512 g), calcium (405.64 ± 0.81 ppm), and B vitamins, where the average of vitamin B1 was 2.775 ± 1.305 g, vitamin B2 was 3.5 ± 1.62 g, vitamin B3 and B6 were less than 0.2, and vitamin B12 was less than 5. Heavy metals (less than 0.1 ppm), arsenic (0.095 ± 0.338 ppm), and cadmium (less than 0.025 ppm) were lower than the standard level. Due to the proximity of heavy metals to the standard, its status was considered critical. The average concentrations of aflatoxins, insecticides, fungicides, and herbicides were standard in different cultivars of rice. Given the nutritional value, the standard level of pollutants, and the health of Iranian rice species, rice consumption is recommended in diets and exports.