Why juice is dangerous
The recent announcement to limit arsenic in apple juice to 10 parts per billion paves the way to regulate foods that have higher levels of arsenic. The levels of arsenic in fruit juices and cereals will now be limited by America’s Food and Drug Administration.
Arsenic occurs in food items due to environmental factors. Pesticides and industrial waste have high content of arsenic. And arsenic contamination of the soil is higher around industrial areas, where processing of glass, textiles, paper wood preservatives etc. is done. It further pollutes the environment when it is flushed out in the water. Water also carries the arsenic and contaminates the soil and the vegetables and crops grown on it. Contaminated water is found to be one of the major sources of arsenic.
The current drinking water standard for arsenic is 0.01 milligrams per litre of water. Drinking water with this level of MCL (maximum contaminant level) is not harmful. But in India, in states like West Bengal, contamination is much higher.
Charita Adikane, chief clinical nutritionist, Apollo Hospital, Secunderabad, says, “The major source of worry is groundwater. The contamination levels are found to be more than 40 µg/l (micrograms per litre) in many areas. In India, it is a major problem as most dry areas are dependent on groundwater and the arsenic levels are not ideal for human consumption.”
Apart from water, rice is also found to contain higher levels of arsenic due to the pesticides used. Rice is found to absorb arsenic more readily than other crops. It is found that foods that are grown in areas where soil is contaminated will have arsenic present in the fruits. So such a fruit, if preserved for a long time, will tend to have higher content of arsenic. According to consumer reports, it was found that vegetables account for the biggest dietary exposure to arsenic — 24 per cent. Fruits and fruit juices meanwhile account for 18 per cent and rice is at 17 per cent. The effects of arsenic are not seen immediately. It is a long term effect and its direct impact is on the skin.
Dr Latha Sashi, consultant nutrionist at Fernandez Hospital, explains, “Cancer-prone areas have higher incidences of cancer of the skin, bladder cancer, chronic lung diseases and adverse renal effects. Arsenic-triggered anomalies have also been found in the reproductive system of women, causing a higher number of miscarriages. It is also one of the major reasons for underweight babies.”
Apart from these natural foods, fruit juices with preservatives contain arsenic. “Earlier juice was a luxury but now it has become a necessity with many making it a part of diet,” said Dr Latha. More the consumption, more will be the risks of arsenic accumulation in the body.
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