LAUSR

Abstract Environmental, soil, and groundwater pollution from toxic heavy metals, as well as food safety are all global concerns nowadays. The effect of various processes viz. washing, soaking, and cooking of rice samples (ten rice varieties, 50 samples) on the concentration of essential elements and toxic heavy metals was determined using the inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry technique. The concentrations of As, Cd, Cu, and Ni were found to be below the maximum permissible levels. The range of mean concentrations of metals (mg/kg) was recorded as Al (15.495–8.151), Fe (10.358–7.499), Ni (0.399–0.176), Cu (4.518–2.615), Zn (28.635–12.880), As (0.152–0.042), Cd (0.233–0.038), Pb (0.713–0.417), Ti (2.157 > 0.521), Sn (1.406–0.016), and W (1.114–0.017) mg/kg. Pt and Ag metals were not found in all samples. Soaking rice for 2 h was one of the most successful techniques for lowering heavy metal concentrations, followed by overnight soaking, which aided in the elimination of Al, Cd, Pb, and Pb. Heavy metal exposure has a significant impact on human health. This study creates a promising view to use a simple and accurate detection method for minimizing the effect of different processing methods on the essential elements and heavy metal contents.