ARSENIC
LEVELS IN RICE: SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
NEWS: Study links climate change with
rising arsenic levels in rice, increasing cancer risks for Asians
WHAT’S
IN THE NEWS?
A
Lancet Planetary Health study warns that rising temperatures and CO₂ levels
from climate change could significantly increase arsenic accumulation in rice
by 2050, especially affecting South and Southeast Asia. This could lead to
millions of new cancer cases and serious public health challenges unless urgent
mitigation efforts are undertaken.
Context
- A new study
published in The Lancet Planetary Health has found that climate
change, particularly the rise in global temperatures and carbon
dioxide (CO₂) levels, could cause a significant increase in arsenic
levels in rice by the year 2050.
- These environmental
changes are altering soil chemistry, making it easier for arsenic
present in the soil and groundwater to be absorbed by rice plants.
Health Implications of
Elevated Arsenic
- Consumption
of arsenic-contaminated rice will likely increase the incidence of
several types of cancers.
- Cancers
of the lung, bladder, and skin are projected to
become significantly more common among populations that consume rice as a
staple food.
- Non-Cancer Health
Effects:
- Elevated
arsenic exposure is not limited to cancer; it also contributes to:
- Cardiovascular
diseases
such as heart disease.
- Metabolic
disorders
like diabetes.
- Neurodevelopmental
disorders in
children, affecting brain growth and cognitive function.
- Pregnancy-related
complications,
including higher risks of miscarriage, stillbirth, and low birth weight.
Widespread Risk in Asia
- The
impact will be especially severe in South Asia and Southeast
Asia, where rice forms a fundamental part of the daily diet
for billions of people.
- Highly Vulnerable
Countries:
- India, Bangladesh, China, and Vietnam
are particularly at risk due to:
- High
per capita rice consumption.
- Pre-existing
problems of arsenic contamination in groundwater.
- Projected Health
Crisis:
- The
study warns that if the trend continues, tens of millions of new
cancer cases could arise by 2050.
- China
alone
could see over 13 million new cancer cases due to arsenic exposure
through rice consumption.
Scientific Basis and
Methodology
- Researchers
conducted extensive field studies over a decade, testing 28
different rice strains to observe how they absorbed arsenic under
changing climate conditions.
- They
combined experimental data with predictive modeling to
estimate how climate change will alter arsenic levels in rice across seven
major rice-consuming Asian countries.
- Synergistic
Effect: It
was observed that higher temperatures and increased atmospheric CO₂
levels together dramatically boost arsenic accumulation in rice
plants compared to either factor alone.
- Soil
Chemistry Changes:
Rising CO₂ alters soil microbial activities and chemical properties,
enhancing arsenic mobilization and plant uptake.
Mitigation and Policy
Recommendations
- Development of New
Rice Varieties:
- Focus
on breeding and cultivating low-arsenic rice varieties that have a
reduced tendency to absorb arsenic from soil and water.
- Improved Soil and
Water Management:
- Introduce
agricultural practices that lower arsenic availability in paddy fields,
such as:
- Controlled
irrigation techniques (e.g., alternating wetting and drying of fields).
- Using
soil amendments that immobilize arsenic.
- Public Health
Campaigns:
- Launch
awareness programs aimed at:
- Educating
farmers and consumers about the dangers of arsenic.
- Promoting
diversification of diet to reduce heavy dependence on rice alone.
- Encouraging
regular monitoring of arsenic levels in agricultural zones.
- Policy Interventions:
- Governments
must prioritize arsenic mitigation strategies in their climate
adaptation and food security policies.
- International
cooperation may be necessary, given the transboundary nature of food
trade and environmental change.
Source:
https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/health/study-links-climate-change-with-rising-arsenic-levels-in-rice-increasing-cancer-risks-for-asians/article69474056.ece