Rising temperatures, carbon could bump up arsenic in rice
Home / News
17/04/25
By: Dann Okoth
[NAIROBI] Climate change, combined with rising carbon dioxide levels, may significantly impact arsenic levels in paddy rice, potentially raising lifetime health risks for consumers, according to a new study.
Long-term exposure to inorganic arsenic can lead to cancers of the lung, bladder, and skin, as well as heart disease and diabetes, according to the study published in the journal The Lancet Planetary Health.
Inorganic arsenic is formed when arsenic combines with non-carbon-containing elements, such as oxygen or sulphur. It is far more toxic than organic arsenic compounds, such as those found in seafood.
The study by Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, in New York, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences shows that increased temperatures above two degrees, coupled with rising carbon dioxide levels, lead to higher concentrations of inorganic arsenic in rice.
As rice is a dietary staple in many parts of the world, these changes could lead to a substantial rise in the global burden of cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and other arsenic-related health issues especially for populations in Asia by 2050, according to the researchers.
More:
https://www.scidev.net/global/news/rising-temperatures-carbon-could-bump-up-arsenic-in-rice/