Arsenic accumulation in rice (Oryza sativa L.): Human exposure through food chain

doi:10.1016/j.ecoenv.2007.01.005

Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety

Volume 69, Issue 2, February 2008, Pages 317-324

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2007.01.005 Get rights and content

Abstract

Although human exposure to arsenic is thought to be caused mainly through arsenic-contaminated underground drinking water, the use of this water for irrigation enhances the possibility of arsenic uptake into crop plants. Rice is the staple food grain in Bangladesh. Arsenic content in straw, grain and husk of rice is especially important since paddy fields are extensively irrigated with underground water having high level of arsenic concentration. However, straw and husk are widely used as cattle feed. Arsenic concentration in rice grain was 0.5±0.02 mg kg⁻¹ with the highest concentrations being in grains grown on soil treated with 40 mg As kg⁻¹ soil. With the average rice consumption between 400 and 650 g/day by typical adults in the arsenic-affected areas of Bangladesh, the intake of arsenic through rice stood at 0.20–0.35 mg/day. With a daily consumption of 4 L drinking water, arsenic intake through drinking water stands at 0.2 mg/day. Moreover, when the rice plant was grown in 60 mg of As kg⁻¹ soil, arsenic concentrations in rice straw were 20.6±0.52 at panicle initiation stage and 23.7±0.44 at maturity stage, whereas it was 1.6±0.20 mg kg⁻¹ in husk. Cattle drink a considerable amount of water. So alike human beings, arsenic gets deposited into cattle body through rice straw and husk as well as from drinking water which in turn finds a route into the human body. Arsenic intake in human body from rice and cattle could be potentially important and it exists in addition to that from drinking water. Therefore, a hypothesis has been put forward elucidating the possible food chain pathways through which arsenic may enter into human body.

Introduction

Arsenic contamination in ground water has turned into the gravest natural disaster and spatially encompasses Bangladesh, India (West Bengal), China, Taiwan, Vietnam, United States of America, Argentina, Chile, Mexico, etc. In Bangladesh, arsenic concentration in ground water has exceeds the safety level (0.05 mg As L⁻¹ of water is the Bangladesh standard) in 59 districts out of 64 districts and about 80 million people are exposed to arsenic poisoning. The natural contamination of shallow hand tube wells in Bangladesh with arsenic has caused widespread human exposure to this toxic element through drinking water (Karim, 2000; Paul et al., 2000). Use of arsenic-contaminated shallow tube-well water for irrigation of crops has raised the following question: Is arsenic-contaminated drinking water the only pathway of human exposure to arsenic? If not, what are the other pathways through which such exposure is taking place? With this question in mind, we conducted glasshouse and field level experiments to investigate the concentrations of arsenic in rice, the main foodstuff of the population of Bangladeshis, and straw and husk of rice, the main fodder for cattle in the country.

The impact of arsenic-contaminated irrigation water on the arsenic content in rice is especially important as rice is the staple food for the population of arsenic-epidemic areas, and it is grown in flooded (reduced) condition where arsenic availability is high (Duxbury et al., 2003). Different consumers of natural ecosystem, such as primary, secondary or tertiary, are taking arsenic contaminated food and water, and as stated in reports, arsenic is getting deposited into their bodies (Bruce et al., 2003; Shariatpanahi and Anderson, 1984; Thornton and Webb, 1979).

Another important aspect of the present study is the extent and severity of arsenic poisoning in human body through these crop plants, directly or indirectly. We tried to trace food chain pathways of natural ecosystem through which arsenic may enter into human body so that we can assess the potentiality of these pathways in exposing human to arsenic. It is quite difficult to investigate all the arsenic-transferring food chain pathways of natural ecosystem even in small scale. So in this paper, we focused mainly on the extent and severity of arsenic poisoning in human body through “Plant (rice)–Animal (cattle)–Man” food chain pathway.

Section snippets

Soil preparation

Pot experiments were conducted in a glasshouse at Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI). Soil, collected from BRRI farm at a depth of 0–15 cm, were sun dried for 7 days and then the massive aggregates were broken down by gentle crushing with hammer. The unwanted materials, viz. dry roots, grasses, stones were removed from the bulk soil. Then the soil was mixed thoroughly, crushed and sieved with 2 mm sieve. Sample from this initial soil was collected into a plastic bottle for physico-chemical

Results and discussion

To investigate the potential of “plant–human” food chain pathway in arsenic poisoning of human body, we determined the arsenic concentration in tissues of rice. A hypothesis may also demonstrated from it reflecting the possibility of arsenic poisoning of human body through different food chain pathways, especially the “Plant–Animal–Man”, on the basis of data of “plant–human” food chain pathway. In the first phase of this experiment, rice was cultivated in artificially spiked soil with different

Conclusion

Many previous reports demonstrated that foodstuffs collected from arsenic epidemic areas contain significant concentrations of arsenic. Roychowdhury et al. (2002) reported the arsenic concentrations in individual composites of cooked items, collected from an arsenic epidemic area of West Bengal, India, as rice (between 374.17 and 666.57 μg kg⁻¹), freshwater fish (between 830 and 900 μg kg⁻¹), potato curry (186 μg kg⁻¹), potato skin fried in oil (617 μg kg⁻¹), leaf of vegetables (578 μg kg⁻¹), mixed

Acknowledgment

Authors are grateful to the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) for kindly allowing to do the experiments at their Arsenic Laboratory, Soil Science Division. Authors are also thankful to Mr. Mosharraf Hossain for his sincere help in preparing this manuscript. The first author is thankful to the Ministry of Science, Information and Communication Technology, Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, for awarding the NSICT fellowship for this research work.

References (44)

M. Bae et al.
Arsenic in cooked rice in Bangladesh
Lancet
(2002)
S.L. Bruce et al.
A field study conducted at Kidston gold mine to evaluate the impact of arsenic and zinc from mine tailing to grazing cattle
Toxicol. Lett.
(2003)
H.K. Das et al.
Arsenic concentrations in rice, vegetables and fish in Bangladesh: a preliminary study
Environ. Inter.
(2004)
M.M. Karim
Arsenic in groundwater and health problems in Bangladesh
Water Res.
(2000)
F.A. Nicholson et al.
Heavy metal contents of livestock feeds and animal manures in England and Wales
Bioresour. Technol.
(1999)
M.A. Rahman et al.
Influence of cooking method on arsenic retention in cooked rice related to dietary exposure
Sci. Total Environ.
(2006)
T. Roychowdhury et al.
Survey of arsenic in food composites from an arsenic-affected area of West Bengal, India
Food Chem. Toxicol.
(2002)
R.A. Schoof et al.
A market basket survey of inorganic arsenic in food
Food Chem. Toxicol.
(1999)
I. Thornton et al.
Aspects of geochemistry and health in the United Kingdom
Phys. Chem. Earth
(1979)
M.J. Abedin et al.
Arsenic accumulation and metabolism in rice (Oryza sativa L.)
Environ. Sci. Technol.
(2002)

M.J. Abedin et al.

Uptake kinetics of arsenic species in rice plants

Plant Physiol.

(2002)

A.H. Ackerman et al.

Comparison of a chemical and enzymatic extraction of arsenic from rice and an assessment of the arsenic absorption from contaminated water by cooked rice

Environ. Sci. Technol.

(2005)

F.B. Anastasia et al.

The influence of soil arsenic on the growth of lowberry bush

Environ. Qual.

(1973)

Campbell, J.A., Stark, J.H., Carlton-Smith, C.H., 1985. In: International Symposium on Heavy Metals in the Environment,...

A.A. Carbonell et al.

The influence of arsenic chemical form and concentration on Spertina partens and Spertina alterniflora growth and tissue arsenic concentration

Plant Soil

(1998)

J.C. Chen et al.

Human carcinogenicity and antherogenicity induced by chronic exposure to inorganic arsenic

S. D’llio et al.

Arsenic content of various types of rice as determined by plasma-based techniques

Microchem. J.

(2002)

J.M. Duxbury et al.

Food chain aspects of arsenic contamination in Bangladesh: effects on quality and productivity of rice

Environ. Sci. Health

(2003)

J.G. Farmer et al.

Assessment of occupational exposure to inorganic arsenic based on urinary concentrations and speciation of arsenic

Br. J. Ind. Med.

(1990)

Q.Q. Jiang et al.

Effect of different form and sources of arsenite on crop yield and arsenic concentration

Water, Air Soil Pollut.

(1994)

L.R. Johnson et al.

Arsenic content of soil and crops following use of methanearsonate herbicides

Soil Sci. Soc. Am. Proc.

(1969)

R.A. Khattak et al.

Accumulation and interactions of arsenic, selenium, molybdenum and phosphorus in alfalfa

Environ. Qual.

(1991)

Cited by (197)

An extensive review of arsenic dynamics and its distribution in soil-aqueous-rice plant systems in south and Southeast Asia with bibliographic and meta-data analysis
2024, Chemosphere
Millions of people worldwide are affected by arsenic (As) contamination, particularly in South and Southeast Asian countries, where large-scale dependence on the usage of As-contaminated groundwater in drinking and irrigation is a familiar practice. Rice (Oryza sativa) cultivation is commonly done in South and Southeast Asian countries as a preferable crop which takes up more As than any other cereals. The present article has performed a scientific meta-data analysis and extensive bibliometric analysis to demonstrate the research trend in global rice As contamination scenario in the timeframe of 1980–2023. This study identified that China contributes most with the maximum number of publications followed by India, USA, UK and Bangladesh. The two words ‘arsenic’ and ‘rice’ have been identified as the most dominant keywords used by the authors, found through co-occurrence cluster analysis with author keyword association study. The comprehensive perceptive attained about the factors affecting As load in plant tissue and the nature of the micro-environment augment the contamination of rice cultivars in the region. This extensive review analyses soil parameters through meta-data regression assessment that influence and control As dynamics in soil with its further loading into rice grains and presents that As content and OM are inversely related and slightly correlated to the pH increment of the soil. Additionally, irrigation and water management practices have been found as a potential modulator of soil As concentration and bioavailability, presented through a linear fit with 95% confidence interval method.
Enhancing cabbage resilience against heavy metal stress through silicon amendments and melatonin: A depth investigation
2024, Scientia Horticulturae
This study investigated the phytotoxic toxic effects of heavy metals and evaluated the ameliorative effects of exogenously applied silicon (Si) in cabbage. Three experiments were conducted to assess the morphological, physiological, and biochemical changes associated with heavy metal toxicity and the potential mitigation by Si. The threshold level of cabbage plants was determined in the first experiment using nickel (Ni), cadmium (Cd), and arsenic (As) as selected heavy metals. Significant reductions in growth attributes, such as plant biomass, leaf area, and root weight, were observed at all heavy metal concentrations. Physiological parameters, including photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate and stomatal conductance were also significantly reduced due to heavy metal toxicity. In the second experiment, foliar application of Si at different concentrations mitigated the negative impacts of heavy metals on plant growth and physiological attributes. Maximum mitigation was observed at Si concentrations of 2 mM and 3 mM. The third experiment confirmed the efficacy of Si at 2 mM in reducing heavy metal toxicity and improving physiological attributes. Si application significantly decreased the uptake of Cd, Ni, and As in cabbage plants. Chlorophyll contents and antioxidant enzyme activities indicated the positive impact of Si on growth and development under heavy metal stress. Heavy metals exhibited toxic effects on cabbage plants, but exogenous application of Si, particularly at 2 mM, effectively mitigated these effects and enhanced plant growth. Si application at 3mM exhibited the maximum reduction in Cd toxicity, leading to a 79% increase in fresh biomass. When Ni and Cd-stressed plants were treated with silicon at 2mM, there was maximum reduction in toxicity, resulting in a 75% and 71% increase in the photosynthetic rate. Maximum mitigation of Cd toxicity was achieved by applying silicon at 2mM, resulting in a 94% increase in stomatal conductance. Furthermore, under a-biotic stress cabbage increased the concentration of melatonin that help the plant to cope from stress. These findings demonstrate the potential of Si application as a strategy to alleviate heavy metal toxicity and improve the growth of cabbage plants
Hormones and the antioxidant transduction pathway and gene expression, mediated by Serratia marcescens DB1, lessen the lethality of heavy metals (As, Ni, and Cr) in Oryza sativa L.
2023, Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
Microorganisms have recently gained recognition as efficient biological tool for reducing heavy metal toxicity in crops. In this experiment, we isolated a potent heavy metal (As, Ni, and Cr) resistant rhizobacterium Serratia marcescens DB1 and detected its plant growth promoting traits such as phosphate solubilization, gibberellin synthesis, organic acid production and amino acid regulation. Based on these findings, DB1 was further investigated for application in a rice var. Hwayeongbyeo subjected to 1 mM As, 4 mM Ni, and 4 mM Cr stress. The rice plants treated with Cr and Ni appeared healthy but were lethal, indicating unfitness for consumption due to toxic metal deposition, whereas the plants treated with > 1 mM As instantaneously died. Our results showed that DB1 inoculation significantly decreased metal accumulation in the rice shoots. Particularly, Cr uptake dropped by 16.55% and 22.12% in (Cr + DB1) and (Cr + As + Ni + DB1), respectively, As dropped by 48.90% and 35.82% in (As + DB1) and (Cr + As + Ni + DB1), respectively, and Ni dropped by 7.95% and 19.56% in (Ni + DB1) and (Cr + As + Ni + DB1), respectively. These findings were further validated by gene expression analysis results, which showed that DB1 inoculation significantly decreased the expression of OsPCS1 (a phytochelatin synthase gene), OsMTP1 (a metal transporting gene), and OsMTP5 (a gene for the expulsion of excess metal). Moreover, DB1 inoculation considerably enhanced the morphological growth of rice through modulation of endogenous phytohormones (abscisic acid, salicylic acid, and jasmonic acid) and uptake of essential elements such as K and P. These findings indicate that DB1 is an effective biofertilizer that can mitigate heavy metal toxicity in rice crops.
Selenite and selenate showed contrasting impacts on the fate of arsenic in rice (Oryza sativa L.) regardless of the formation of iron plaque
2022, Environmental Pollution
The different effects of selenite and selenate on the fate of As and the function of iron plaque in the interaction between Se and As are poorly understood. Rice seedlings (Oryza sativa L.) were selected as experimental plants in this study, the hydroponic experiments were conducted to investigate the possible regulatory roles of selenite and selenate on the uptake, translocation, and transformation of arsenite or arsenate accompanied by iron plaque. In arsenite- and arsenate-treated rice, the Fe30 treatments stimulated root uptake by 12.4–39.8% and 18.6–37.0%, respectively, but inhibited the movement of As from iron plaque to the roots, resulting in the absorption of a considerable amount of As on iron plaque. Regardless of the iron plaque formation, selenite (selenate) significantly increased (decreased) the root uptake of arsenite and arsenate by 28.1–53.0% and 40.0%–61.7%, respectively (45.6–56.3% and 42.5–47.7%, respectively). Interestingly, the supply of selenite significantly reduced root-to-shoot As translocation by 71.9–77.3% and 66.2–67.7%, respectively, in arsenite- and arsenate-treated rice seedlings; however, a significant increase (90.5–122.9%) was induced by selenate was found only in the arsenate-treated plants. Furthermore, the translocation of As from iron plaque to the roots was significantly increased (decreased) by selenite (selenate). As and Fe in iron plaque were significantly positively correlated in all As-treated rice plants, and this correlation was more profound than that in the shoots and roots. However, neither Fe treatments nor inorganic Se addition affected the interconversion between As(III) and As(V) obviously; and As(III) was the dominant species in both shoots (68.3–84.9%) and roots (90.7–98.2%). Our results indicate selenite and selenate are effective in reducing the As accumulation in an opposite way, and the presence of iron plaque had no obvious impact on the interaction between Se and As in rice plants.
Global arsenic dilemma and sustainability
2022, Journal of Hazardous Materials
Arsenic (As) is one of the most prolific natural contaminants in water resources, and hence, it has been recognized as an emerging global problem. Arsenic exposure through food exports and imports, such as As-contaminated rice and cereal-based baby food, is a potential risk worldwide. However, ensuring As-safe drinking water and food for the globe is still not stated explicitly as a right neither in the United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) nor the global UNESCO priorities. Despite these omissions, addressing As contamination is crucial to ensure and achieve many of the declared human rights, SDGs, and global UNESCO priorities. An international platform for sharing knowledge, experience, and resources through an integrated global network of scientists, professionals, and early career researchers on multidisciplinary aspects of As research can act as an umbrella covering the activities of UN, UNESCO, and other UN organizations. This can deal with the mitigation of As contamination, thus contributing to global economic development and human health. This article provides a perspective on the global As problem for sustainable As mitigation on a global scale by 2030.
Thermal induced changes of rice straw phytolith in relation to arsenic release: A perspective of rice straw arsenic under open burning
2022, Journal of Environmental Management
On-site open burning is a common practice for handling rice straw, but its negative impacts, e.g., biomass loss and air pollution, are largely debated worldwide. To address the negative effects of open burning, many efforts have been made to ‘ignite’ worldwide bans. However, these bans are likely based on a singular view in which some positive aspects of open burning are overlooked. In this study, we aimed to determine the thermal-induced changes of straw and straw arsenic (As) under open burning and heat-treatments (in the temperature range from 300 to 900 °C). It was found that silica phase in rice straw (so-called phytolith) can encapsulate As in its structure. Open burning or heat-treatment of straw resulted in a tighter association of As and phytolith, thereby reducing dissolution of As. We proposed an opinion that open burning causes air pollution, but it can increase the activity of phytolith in sequestrating As, enabling delayed As cycle in rice ecosystems. The combat of on-site open burning of rice straw to reduce air pollution will alter straw handling routines, thereby changing the cycle of straw phytolith and the route of straw As.

View all citing articles on Scopus

View full text

Arsenic accumulation in rice (Oryza sativa L.): Human exposure through food chain

Abstract

Introduction

Section snippets

Soil preparation

Results and discussion

Conclusion

Acknowledgment

Lancet

Toxicol. Lett.

Environ. Inter.

Water Res.

Bioresour. Technol.

Sci. Total Environ.

Food Chem. Toxicol.

Food Chem. Toxicol.

Phys. Chem. Earth

Arsenic accumulation and metabolism in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Environ. Sci. Technol.

Uptake kinetics of arsenic species in rice plants

Plant Physiol.

Comparison of a chemical and enzymatic extraction of arsenic from rice and an assessment of the arsenic absorption from contaminated water by cooked rice

Environ. Sci. Technol.

The influence of soil arsenic on the growth of lowberry bush

Environ. Qual.

The influence of arsenic chemical form and concentration on Spertina partens and Spertina alterniflora growth and tissue arsenic concentration

Plant Soil

Human carcinogenicity and antherogenicity induced by chronic exposure to inorganic arsenic

Arsenic content of various types of rice as determined by plasma-based techniques

Microchem. J.

Food chain aspects of arsenic contamination in Bangladesh: effects on quality and productivity of rice

Environ. Sci. Health

Assessment of occupational exposure to inorganic arsenic based on urinary concentrations and speciation of arsenic

Br. J. Ind. Med.

Effect of different form and sources of arsenite on crop yield and arsenic concentration

Water, Air Soil Pollut.

Arsenic content of soil and crops following use of methanearsonate herbicides

Soil Sci. Soc. Am. Proc.

Accumulation and interactions of arsenic, selenium, molybdenum and phosphorus in alfalfa

Environ. Qual.