- Rice can contain inorganic arsenic.
- Climate change may increase arsenic in rice.
- Warmer weather makes rice absorb more arsenic.
- Long exposure to arsenic can cause cancer.
- Arsenic also links to heart disease and diabetes.
- Many people eat rice every day.
- Scientists studied rice in field experiments for many years.
- Washing rice can lower arsenic in cooked rice.
- Scientists and growers work to reduce arsenic.
- Better farming can help reduce arsenic in rice.
Difficult words
- arsenic — A poisonous element found in food and soil
- inorganic — A type of chemical not from living things
- climate change — Long-term change in weather and temperatures
- absorb — To take in a liquid or gas
- exposure — Time when a person has contact with something
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Do you eat rice every day?
- Do you wash rice before cooking?
- Have you heard of arsenic in food?
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