Kabir, et al (2024) Arsenic speciation in rice grain grown in microwave and biocharBiochar is a carbon-rich material created from biomass decomposition in low-oxygen conditions. It has important applications in environmental remediation, soil improvement, agriculture, carbon sequestration, energy storage, and sustainable materials, promoting efficiency and reducing waste in various contexts while addressing climate change challenges. More treated soil. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfca.2024.106715

A recent study, published in the Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, explores how microwave (MW) soil treatment and biochar (BC) amendments affect arsenic (As) accumulation in rice. The research focuses on arsenic speciation, highlighting the importance of understanding the chemical forms of arsenic to assess its toxicity.

The study found that microwave soil treatment significantly reduced arsenic concentrations in rice grains, cutting arsenite (As[III]) levels by up to 73.74%. The microwave treatment also reduced the organic form, dimethylarsinic acid (DMA), which constituted up to 85.69% of the total arsenic in rice. In contrast, biochar amendments increased As(III) accumulation, with varying effects on DMA depending on the application rate.

Arsenic contamination in soils, a global concern, poses health risks through consumption of affected crops like rice. Since rice can accumulate ten times more arsenic than other crops, reducing arsenic uptake is crucial. The study’s results suggest that microwave soil treatment could be an innovative technique for mitigating arsenic toxicity, although more research is needed to understand its effects across different rice varieties and soil conditions.

Overall, the findings present microwave treatment as a promising method for reducing arsenic in rice, while biochar’s role may require further optimization to minimize its unintended effects.