Rise in Rice: Battling Arsenic and Cadmium Contamination using Biochar

 By Reynaldo Gonzalez

 Image depicts a general overview of the experiment's results. Shows how MMEB and MMCEB had positive results and increased yield in rice while also reducing the As and Cd levels in the rice grains. Figure taken from Islam et al. 2023.

         Arsenic and cadmium are two metals/metalloids (ML) which have played a role in the contamination of crops, such as rice. These contaminants have detrimental effects on plant health, such as reduction in plant growth and crop yield (Islam et al. 2023), and they pose a major threat to human and animal health when consumed through rice and other crops (Williams et al. 2009, Zhou et al. 2022). Arsenic consumption has been linked to many health conditions such as neurological and cardiovascular disorders, while cadmium has been linked to kidney and liver inflammation (Eick and Steinmaus 2020, Fatoki and Badmus 2022, Suhani et al. 2021). Though there are many complications in trying to reduce the prevalence of these MLs, Islam and his colleagues conducted an experiment in order to simultaneously reduce traceable cadmium and arsenic levels in rice fields, specifically on paddy soil, while also increasing the crop yield and quality using biochar. This study found that using a magnesium-manganese-modified eggshell biochar (MMEB) increased crop yield while also reducing the ML level in the grains of rice compared to that of the control groups (Islam et al. 2023). This demonstrates environmental sustainability by enriching soil health and increasing the prevalence of microorganisms which can specifically detoxify arsenic and cadmium (Islam et al. 2023).  Overall, this study demonstrates an eco-friendly way of promoting food security using biological components, such as egg shells in this study, and also promoting better soil health in their fields.

Islam MS, Zhu J, Xiao L, Khan ZH, Saqib HSA, Gao M, Song Z. 2023. Enhancing rice quality and productivity: Multifunctional biochar for arsenic, cadmium, and bacterial control in paddy soil. Chemosphere. 342 (140157).