Arsenic bioaccumulation in rice and edible plants and subsequent transmission through food chain in Bengal basin: a review of the perspectives for environmental health |
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Authors: | Sayan Bhattacharya Kaushik Gupta Sushanta Debnath Uday Chand Ghosh Dhrubajyoti Chattopadhyay Aniruddha Mukhopadhyay |
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Institution: | 1. Department of Environmental Science , University of Calcutta, 51/2 , Hazra Road, Kolkata – 700019 , West Bengal , India sayan_evs@yahoo.co.in;3. Department of Chemistry , Presidency University (formerly Presidency College) , 86/1, College Street, Kolkata – 700073 , West Bengal , India;4. B.C. Guha Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Calcutta, 35 , Ballygunge Circular Road, Kolkata – 700019 , West Bengal , India;5. Department of Environmental Science , University of Calcutta, 51/2 , Hazra Road, Kolkata – 700019 , West Bengal , India |
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Abstract: | Arsenic (As) is a metalloid that poses serious environmental threats due to its behemoth toxicity and wide abundance. The use of arsenic-contaminated groundwater for irrigation purpose in crop fields elevates arsenic concentration in surface soil and in the plants. In many arsenic-affected countries, including Bangladesh and India, rice is reported to be one of the major sources of arsenic contamination. Rice is much more efficient at accumulating arsenic into the grains than other staple cereal crops. Rice is generally grown in submerged flooded condition, where arsenic bioavailability is high in soil. As arsenic species are phytotoxic, they can also affect the overall production of rice, and can reduce the economic growth of a country. Once the foodstuffs are contaminated with arsenic, this local problem can gain further significance and may become a global problem, as many food products are exported to other countries. Large-scale use of rainwater in irrigation systems, bioremediation by arsenic-resistant organisms and hyperaccumulating plants, and the aerobic cultivation of rice are some possible ways to reduce the extent of bioaccumulation in rice. Investigation on a complete food chain is urgently needed in the arsenic-contaminated zones, which should be our priority in future researches. |
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Keywords: | arsenic bioaccumulation rice food chain |
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