The content of metallic trace elements in rice-containing products used in the diet of infants and young children - Health risks for consumers.

Infants and young children are a group that is particularly sensitive to harmful substances. Therefore, products intended for consumption by infants and young children are subject to the requirements of food law and must meet high quality, microbiological, and chemical requirements. The study aimed to determine the content and assessment of exposure to selected metallic trace elements: arsenic, chromium, and nickel, in products marketed in Poland intended for consumption by infants (after 4 months) and small children (after 12 months). The research material consisted of 55 samples of products from 14 brands. The content of arsenic (<0.19-5.03 mg/kg), chromium (<0.08-0.88 mg/kg), and nickel (<0.41-3.24 mg/kg) was determined in the mineralized samples using the electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ET-AAS) method. The obtained values of element concentrations were used to estimate the non-cancer and cancer health risk of infants (6-11 months) and young children (1-2 years). Food for infants and young children does not pose a significant threat resulting from the chromium and nickel content in these products. Daily consumption of rice-based products by children carries the possibility of non-cancer and cancer risk, which is a consequence of the arsenic content in these products.