Warming Climate Could Increase Arsenic Levels in Rice, Endangering Staple Food for Billions

A new study warns that rising temperatures and CO2 levels may cause rice plants to absorb more inorganic arsenic, a toxic element linked to cancers and cardiovascular disease. University of Sheffield researchers discovered that test rice grown under simulated future climate conditions had arsenic concentrations up to 50% higher than normal. Given that rice is a staple for over half the global population, experts call this a potentially urgent food safety crisis. Climate-driven shifts in flooding and soil chemistry appear to exacerbate arsenic uptake in paddy fields—posing particular risks to regions like Asia and parts of Africa.