Lou Portero

Urban Health Today

<p>Rice, a staple food for more than half of the world&rsquo;s population, is becoming increasingly hazardous to health due to climate change, according to new research. A study published in the journal <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanplh/article/PIIS2542-5196(25)00055-5/fulltext">Lancet Planetary Health</a>, reveals that warming temperatures and rising CO2 levels are causing rice plants to absorb more arsenic from soil, creating what researchers describe as a &ldquo;scary&rdquo; global health burden.<p>After nearly a decade of research across the Yangtze River Delta in China, scientists discovered that the combination of higher temperatures and increased CO&#8322; levels encourages greater root growth in rice plants, enhancing their ability to uptake arsenic from the soil.</p><p>The research team, led by Donming Wang, an ecological doctorate student at the Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, examined 28 varieties of rice, including japonica, indica, and hybrid strains commonly consumed in seven of Asia&rsquo;s top rice-consuming countries: Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Vietnam.</p><p>Climate-related changes in soil chemistry appear to favor arsenic absorption into the grain. Carbon dioxide-enriched crops capture more atmospheric carbon and transfer some into the soil, stimulating microbes that produce arsenic. When rice paddies are waterlogged, oxygen depletion causes soil bacteria to rely on arsenic for energy generation, resulting in greater arsenic accumulation in both the paddy and the developing grain.</p><p>Inorganic arsenic, classified by the World Health Organization as a &ldquo;confirmed carcinogen&rdquo; and &ldquo;the most significant chemical contaminant in drinking water globally,&rdquo; is particularly concerning. Chronic exposure has been linked to various cancers (lung, bladder, and skin), heart disease, diabetes, pregnancy complications, neurodevelopmental issues, and weakened immune systems.</p><p>Under a &ldquo;worst case&rdquo; climate scenario with global temperatures rising above 2 degrees Celsius and CO2 levels increasing by another 200 parts per million, inorganic arsenic in rice could surge by 44 percent by 2050. The increase would result in more than half of rice samples exceeding China&rsquo;s current proposed limit of 200 parts per billion, potentially causing an estimated 13.4 million cancers linked to rice-based arsenic exposure.</p><p>Infants and young children face the greatest health risks due to their lower body weight, with babies potentially experiencing significant exposure through rice cereals.</p><h2>Potential Solutions</h2><p>Several adaptation strategies could help mitigate these risks:</p><ol>
<li>Earlier planting to avoid seed development during warmer temperatures</li>
<li>Improved soil management practices</li>
<li>Plant breeding to reduce arsenic accumulation</li>
<li>Water-saving irrigation techniques such as alternate wetting and drying cycles for paddy fields</li>
</ol><h2>Should You Stop Eating Rice?</h2><p>According to study co-author Lewis Ziska, a plant biologist at Columbia University researching climate change and public health, people should not suddenly stop consuming rice. While inorganic arsenic levels in rice are higher than in many other plants, they remain relatively low overall. The key variable is consumption frequency&mdash;those who eat rice multiple times weekly may face greater exposure, while occasional consumers likely face minimal risk.</p><p>The findings highlight another way climate change may exacerbate global health inequities, as rice is widely consumed partly because it&rsquo;s among the most affordable grains worldwide.</p><h2>References</h2><p>Wang, D., et al. (2025). Climate change impacts on arsenic accumulation in rice and associated health risks. <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanplh/article/PIIS2542-5196(25)00055-5/fulltext"><em>Lancet Planetary Health</em></a>. Published April 17, 2025.</p></p>


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Climate Change Is Loading Rice With Arsenic

A study reveals that warming temperatures and rising CO₂ levels are causing rice plants to absorb more arsenic from soil.