Introduction

The story begins not in the kitchen, but in the fields. For decades, farmers relied on arsenic-based pesticides and fertilizers, unaware of the poison they were layering into the soil. In regions with heavy industrial growth, factories discharged arsenic-lasced waste into rivers, which seeped into irrigation systems. What was once fertile land slowly became infused with toxins invisible to the human eye. Rice, the most beloved staple food of billions, became the silent victim. Unlike wheat or corn, rice thrives in flooded paddies. But that very environment makes it the perfect sponge for arsenic. Dissolved in water, arsenic slips into the roots of the rice plant and accumulates in its grains. By the late 20th century, scientists revealed that rice can contain 10-20 times more arsenic than other grains. One in four rice samples exceeded the safe levels for infants. What makes this crisis terrifying is not just the contamination itself, but its invisibility. Arsenic poisoning takes years to manifest – stunted growth, weakened immunity, cognitive decline and cancers. By the time symptoms appear irreversible damage is already done. Rice, the food that sustains half the world's population, has become a hidden threat.