A new study published in The Lancet Planetary Health links rising temperatures and CO₂ levels with increased arsenic in rice. Researchers from Columbia University found that by 2050, this may drastically raise cancer and other health risks across Asian countries where rice is a staple. The findings are based on a 10-year field study on 28 rice strains, modeling effects in seven Asian nations.

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• Climate change raising arsenic in rice, tied to heat and CO₂-driven soil changes.
• Study warns of millions of new cancer cases in Asia by 2050 due to this shift.
• Lung, bladder, skin cancers projected to rise with dietary arsenic exposure.
• India, China, Bangladesh among most at-risk nations due to rice dependence.
• China may see 13.4 million cancer cases linked to arsenic by 2050.
• Arsenic exposure also tied to diabetes, birth issues, and immune problems.
• Cooking rice in contaminated water adds to arsenic intake.
• Study shows arsenic levels rise when heat and CO₂ levels increase together.
• First detailed look at climate and arsenic effects across 28 rice strains.
• Experts urge better soil methods, plant breeding, public awareness to reduce risk.