Background: Rice is an important dietary source for methylmercury, a potent neurotoxin, and inorganic arsenic, a human carcinogen. Infants are often weaned onto rice-containing cereals. Rice baby cereals and other rice-containing products are a dietary source of inorganic arsenic; however, less is known concerning methylmercury. Methods: 48 boxes of baby foods were purchased in South Carolina (n=28), California (n=9), Ohio (n=6), New York (n=3), and Florida (n=2). Total mercury and methylmercury concentrations were measured in 36 rice baby cereals, eight rice teething biscuits, and four baby cereals manufactured with oats/wheat (n = 48). Concentrations of inorganic and organic arsenic species were determined in rice baby cereals and rice teething biscuits (n = 44/48), while total arsenic was determined in all products (n = 48). Results: All rice baby cereals and teething biscuits contained methylmercury, while inorganic arsenic concentrations in two brands of rice baby cereal (n = 12/36 boxes of rice cereal) exceeded 100 ng/g, the proposed action level from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Rice baby cereals and rice teething biscuits were on average 61 and 92 times higher in methylmercury, respectively, and 9.4 and 4.7 times higher in total arsenic, respectively, compared to wheat/oat baby cereals. For a 15-g serving of rice baby cereal, average methylmercury intake was 0.0092 pg/day (range: 0.0013-0.034 μg/day), while average inorganic arsenic intake was 1.3 μg/day (range: 0.37-2.3 μg/day). Conclusions: Results from this study suggest frequent ingestion of rice baby cereal and rice-containing teething biscuits will contribute to higher intake of both methylmercury and inorganic arsenic during the period when infant brains and bodies are rapidly developing. Studies concerning the cumulative impacts of methylmercury and inorganic arsenic on offspring development are warranted. Funding: NIH R21ES026412
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