A scientific study has warned that between 14% and 17% of the world’s arable land is contaminated with at least one type of heavy metal, posing health risks to up to 1.4 billion people.
This study, published in the journal “Science,” provides a unique overview of heavy metal pollution by conducting a comprehensive analysis of more than 796,000 soil samples from previous studies and employing algorithms.
A team of scientists, led by Diy Ho, an environmental science expert at Tsinghua University in China, focused on areas where pollution levels of at least one of the seven tested metals, including arsenic and cadmium, exceeded recommended limits for agricultural use and human health.
Based on the analysis of samples and using artificial intelligence tools, the researchers revealed that between 14% and 17% of agricultural land worldwide is contaminated with at least one metal, confirming that between 900 million and 1.4 billion people live in high-risk areas.
Pollution can stem from natural (geological) sources, as metals are naturally present in rocks in varying concentrations, or be linked to human activity, such as waste from industry, agriculture, or mining.
Due to a lack of data in many regions, especially in Africa, the findings of this study remain “insufficient” to allow for the implementation of risk mitigation programs, according to the study’s authors, who emphasize that it should serve as a “warning to policymakers and farmers.”
