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Microwave soil heating can reduce arsenic absorption of rice plants

High concentrations of arsenic are toxic to humans, and the most common entry point is the consumption of foods containing arsenic. Rice is especially prone to accumulating arsenic (which is naturally present in soil) and water compared to other cereal crops. In contrast to wheat and barley, rice has been shown to absorb at least ten times more arsenic from contaminated soil. Industrial processes, such as mining, manufacturing, fertiliser synthesis, and pesticide applications are raising the soil arsenic concentrations of this already abundant contaminant. Although arsenic itself is ubiquitous in the environment, deposited by the weathering of arsenic-containing rocks and mineral deposits, its contamination of the food supply has become a global concern. Rice is a staple food source for half the world’s population, but it is also grown on some of the most contaminated soils. This is in part because rice is a heavily irrigated crop, requiring more water than other cereal crops, and is therefore more exposed to long-term arsenic build-up in the field. The high levels of contamination are a major public health concern for a population which eats an estimated 250–650g per person per day.