About one sixth of global cropland is contaminated by toxic heavy metals, researchers have estimated, with as many as 1.4 billion people living in high-risk areas worldwide.
Approximately 14 to 17% of cropland globally – roughly 242m hectares – is contaminated by at least one toxic metal such as arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, copper, nickel or lead, at levels that exceed agricultural and human health safety thresholds.
The analysis collected data from more than 1,000 regional studies across the globe, as well as using machine learning technology.
Dr Liz Rylott, a senior lecturer in the department of biology at the University of York, who was not involved in the research, said: “These findings reveal the deeply worrying extent to which these natural poisons are polluting our soils, entering our food and water, and affecting our health and our environment.
@verdantbanana maybe i wasn’t super clear… my issue isn’t with heavy metals and what we should do about them. my issue with the article is that it lacks actual data what one could compare with regulatory levels globally… like regardless if it’s true, my beef is with the lack of meat to the article.