Rice samples free of arsenic

Tuesday, 14 June 2011 00:43 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

By Shezna Shums

Minister of Agriculture Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena assures that there is no arsenic residue in the rice that is available in the market, which has gone through testing done by the Industrial Research Institute (ITI).

Yesterday Minister Abeywardena said that 60 samples of rice available in the market had been collected and 20 had already been tested, with no component of arsenic being found. The rest of the samples are still being tested.

These tests are being carried out in light of claims of arsenic residue being left in soil when agro chemicals are applied and thereby being a factor in the high number of people suffering from kidney ailments in Sri Lanka.

“Investigations we have done show that there is no arsenic in the rice in Sri Lanka,” said the Minister.

Samples of pesticides had also been collected by the Ministry of Agriculture and of the 28 tests only two samples had shown significant amounts of arsenic of .0003 litres. “We have now banned these two agro chemicals from being distributed or sold in the local market to protect the public,” added the Minister.

In Sri Lanka any agro chemical with an arsenic component is banned through a Gazette notification published in 2001. “We want to promote a toxicity free and self-sufficient country in terms of food,” highlighted the Minister.

Furthermore, tests and research are still being carried out in the soil and food to see if they hold any arsenic.

Studies carried out by experts from the University of Peradeniya and Kelaniya had indicated that arsenic poisoning used in the agro chemicals is a factor for the increasingly high number of kidneys ailments patients in the country; however these reports are yet to be handed over to the Ministry of Agriculture.

Brushing aside the reports, the Minister went on to explain that there had been several theories as to why so many people suffer from kidney ailments. “First there were reports that the high fluoride was a factor, then it was because of the aluminium pans being used, later it was cadmium, then blue green algae and now its arsenic,” he explained.

When chemicals or pesticides are imported and used in the country the ITI carries out field testing which usually last about two years, after which they specify whether the chemical should be allowed or banned.

However, when chemicals are imported the companies have to register such imported items and provide a quality study by any laboratory before they are allowed into the local market.

It was also highlighted that Sri Lanka needs a laboratory for testing such chemicals in the future.

At yesterday’s meeting was Minister of Agriculture Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, Ministry Secretary K.E. Karunathilake, Director General Department of Agriculture K. Mankotte, Rice Research and Development Institute Director Nimal Dissanayake and Registrar of Chemicals Dr. Anura Wijesekera.