About a sixth of global cropland likely polluted with toxic metals: Study

Major rice producers have worst heavy metal pollution, Chinese scientists warn

India, Pakistan, Thailand and China all have heavy concentrations of cadmium in arable soil, raising the risk of cancer and other diseases.

Scientists warn that approximately 15% of the world's agricultural land is polluted with dangerous heavy metals such as arsenic, lead and cadmium. Studies show that up to 1.4 billion people live in high-risk areas, where these substances end up in food and water, affecting health and the environment.

According to a study published in the journal Science, between 900 million and 1.4 billion individuals worldwide could be exposed to a high level of at least one toxic metal.

About a sixth of global cropland likely polluted with toxic metals: Study

Up to 17 percent of the planet’s agricultural land may be contaminated by toxic heavy metals, a new study has found. As many as 1.4 billion people reside in areas with soil dangerously polluted with compounds like arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, copper, nickel and lead, according to the study, published in Science. Toxic heavy metal pollution…

Heavy metals contaminate up to 17% of world's arable land: Study

Up to 17% of cropland worldwide is contaminated with at least one type of toxic heavy metal, posing health risks to up to 1.4 billion people, scientists warned Thursday.

One-sixth of the planet’s cropland has toxic levels of one or more metals

The first 30 centimeters of soil are the foundation of life. This foot-deep slice of the pedosphere is the vital space for most plant roots. When roots go deeper, it’s to anchor the plant, not to nourish it. Within this narrow band, bacteria, fungi, nematodes, and countless other microscopic organisms form the so-called biological crust, which in turn supports the larger life forms above. Now, a review of thousands of studies — and many more soi…