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Climate change raises arsenic in rice, boosting cancer risks. A Lancet study predicts 1 in 5 will face cancer by 2050. India, producing 27% of rice, faces health concerns
The study states that the ability of rice plants to absorb arsenic will increase, with a 2-degree rise in global temperatures. (Representative/PTI File)
Scientists have made a shocking revelation that climate change is increasing arsenic levels in rice, which is one of the main causes of cancer.
A study published in the Lancet Planetary Health Journal has found that by 2050, one in every five people globally will suffer from cancer at some stage in their life. The study indicates that the ability of rice plants to absorb arsenic will increase, with a 2-degree rise in global temperatures leading to changes in soil structure and higher carbon dioxide levels.
Rice production is significant worldwide, with 540 million metric tonnes produced annually, and India accounting for 27% of this yield. Rice is a staple food globally, but the increasing arsenic levels pose serious health risks.
Lewis Ziska, Associate Professor of Environmental Health at Columbia University, stated that arsenic is already a known pollutant in rice-growing areas in Asia, particularly Southeast Asia. He warned that climate change will exacerbate this issue, leading to increased health hazards such as cancer and heart disease.
Arsenic is primarily found in contaminated soil and irrigation water, and as carbon dioxide levels rise, the structure of rice plants will change, enhancing their ability to absorb arsenic. Cooking rice with arsenic-contaminated water further heightens the risk.
The study highlights that increased temperature and carbon dioxide levels will elevate arsenic content in rice, raising dietary arsenic risks for rice consumers.
This alarming trend suggests that by 2050, millions of people in Asian countries may face heightened cancer risks, including lung and prostate cancer. China alone could see an estimated 13.4 million arsenic-related cancer cases by mid-century. Additionally, the prevalence of heart disease and diabetes may also rise.
A BBC report states that arsenic can build up in the soil of paddy fields and transfer into the rice grown there. The levels of arsenic in rice grains can vary significantly, ranging from well below the limits recommended by regulatory bodies to several times higher.
Consuming even small amounts of inorganic arsenic through food or drinking water can cause cancers and various other health issues, including cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
The BBC report highlights ongoing global research efforts to reduce arsenic levels in rice. Meanwhile, certain cooking methods can help extract some of this harmful element from the grains.
However, a recent study on inorganic arsenic accumulation reveals that climate change may exacerbate the problem. Over a decade, researchers grew 28 different strains of paddy rice at four locations in China under experimental conditions. The study found that arsenic levels in rice increased as atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) levels and temperatures rose. Epidemiologists then modeled the potential health impacts, estimating that the increased arsenic levels in rice could result in approximately 19.3 million additional cancer cases in China alone.
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