Climate Change Increasing Risk Of Cancer From Rice, Says Report
Climate change raises arsenic in rice, boosting cancer risks. A Lancet study predicts 1 in 5 will face cancer by 2050. India, producing 27% of rice, faces health concerns
Scientists have made a shocking revelation that climate change is increasing arsenic levels in rice, which is one of the main causes of cancer.
A study published in the Lancet Planetary Health Journal has found that by 2050, one in every five people globally will suffer from cancer at some stage in their life. The study indicates that the ability of rice plants to absorb arsenic will increase, with a 2-degree rise in global temperatures leading to changes in soil structure and higher carbon dioxide levels.
Rice production is significant worldwide, with 540 million metric tonnes produced annually, and India accounting for 27% of this yield. Rice is a staple food globally, but the increasing arsenic levels pose serious health risks.
Lewis Ziska, Associate Professor of Environmental Health at Columbia University, stated that arsenic is already a known pollutant in rice-growing areas in Asia, particularly Southeast Asia. He warned that climate change will exacerbate this issue, leading to increased health hazards such as cancer and heart disease.
Arsenic is primarily found in contaminated soil and irrigation water, and as carbon dioxide levels rise, the structure of rice plants will change, enhancing their ability to absorb arsenic. Cooking rice with arsenic-contaminated water further heightens the risk.
The study highlights that increased temperature and carbon dioxide levels will elevate arsenic content in rice, raising dietary arsenic risks for rice consumers.
This alarming trend suggests that by 2050, millions of people in Asian countries may face heightened cancer risks, including lung and prostate cancer. China alone could see an estimated 13.4 million arsenic-related cancer cases by mid-century. Additionally, the prevalence of heart disease and diabetes may also rise.
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