Researchers at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health and the Chinese Academy of Sciences report that climate change and higher atmospheric CO2 may raise the amount of inorganic arsenic in paddy rice. Inorganic arsenic is more toxic than the arsenic found in seafood and long exposure can cause cancer and heart disease.
The study says temperatures above two degrees together with higher CO2 increase arsenic in rice grain. Scientists tested rice in field experiments over many years and used Free-Air CO2 Enrichment and modelling to estimate risks for several Asian countries, including Bangladesh, China and India.
The team recommends plant breeding, better soil management and improved processing, and notes that washing and careful cooking can lower arsenic in cooked rice.
Difficult words
- arsenic — A chemical element that can be poisonous.inorganic arsenic
- inorganic — Not made from living plants or animals.inorganic arsenic
- paddy — A flooded field where farmers grow rice.paddy rice
- exposure — Time when a person is in contact with something.
- processing — Actions to change food after harvest.
- model — To make a simple simulation or prediction.modelling
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Discussion questions
- Do you wash rice before cooking? Why or why not?
- Which recommendation from the team could people try at home? Explain briefly.
- Would you be worried about chemicals like arsenic in rice? Why or why not?
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