Dear Colleagues

Alarms have been raised by many scientists in the last few years
in relation to arsenic accumulation in agricultural fields and in food grains
such as rice. New research may suggest a way to deal with it:

Recent research has discovered that the arsenic transporter
in rice is the same as that used by silicon as written up in the paper: Ma,
J.F., Yamaji, N., Mitani, N., Xu, X., Su, Y., Mcgrath, S.P., & Zhao, F. 2008.
Transporters of arsenite in rice and their role in arsenic accumulation in rice
grain. PNA. 105. (29).

In their discussion Ma et al 2008, state that a more practical level, ensuring
sufficient silicon availability in the soil is
likely to suppress As accumulation in rice." This would I assume not only
reduce its toxicity for consumption but prevent yields being depressed by
arsenic uptake.

Dr Martin Hodson of Oxford Brookes University who forwarded
me this article notes that this may have important practical implications for
Arsenic Mitigation. In countries like
Japan silicon fertilisers would be a good option, while if not available silica
slag or even rice husks (which are very high in silicon) may be options,
apparently the latter has worked well as a source of silicon for soils in the
past.

If anybody wishes a copy of the pdf with the full article
please email me at: cbsdpconsultant-arsenic at yahoo.co.uk

While I would also be very interested to hear from anybody
who puts these suggestions to practical use in arsenic mitigation.

warm regards
James S. Pender
Development & Natural Resource Management Advisor
(with Church of Bangladesh Social Development Programme)
C/o The Director
Christian Mission Hospital
Kazihata

Rajshahi 6000
GPO Box # 25
Rajshahi District
BANGLADESH

Download my report on Bangladesh & Climate Change at:
http://www.kirkensnodhjelp.no/en/About-NCA/Publications/Reports/ OR
http://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/councils/worldmission/wmresources.htm OR
http://www.eldis.org/go/display&id=41967&type=Document&emnotif100209