Arsenic (As) is a toxic metalloid associated with various negative human health impacts including cancer, skin lesions, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes. Arsenic contamination of groundwater and soil is a major human health issue, particularly in South and Southeast Asia. Use of As-contaminated groundwater from shallow tube wells for irrigation of paddy rice, the staple food for people in this region, is one of the causes of As-related health impacts. The anaerobic growing conditions of flooded rice paddies and the unique physiology of the rice plants lead to increased As levels in rice. The World Health Organization (WHO) has set advisory levels of As in polished (i.e., white) rice grain at 0.2 mg/kg, but the EU and USA are yet to set legal standards for As in rice and rice-based products. Strategies for lowering As accumulation in rice revolve around two approaches—agronomic and biotechnological. Agronomic approaches, such as mineral supplementation of soil using iron, phosphorus, sulfur, silicon, water management, soil aeration practices, and the use of biological agents, are designed to lower As solubility, and uptake by rice. Rotation of the rice crop with As accumulating plants could also result in lowering soil As. Biotechnological approaches involve producing transgenic rice varieties by altering the expression of genes involved in As uptake, translocation, and sequestration in the plant. These approaches, combined with proper diet management and creating public awareness on potential health risks resulting from chronic exposure to As in rice, could play a key role in risk reduction.

中文翻译：

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大米中的砷是人类主要关注的健康吗？

砷（As）是一种有毒的准金属，与人类健康的各种负面影响相关，包括癌症，皮肤损害，心血管疾病和糖尿病。地下水和土壤中的砷污染是人类的主要健康问题，尤其是在南亚和东南亚。浅管井中被砷污染的地下水用于灌溉水稻，这是该地区人民的主要食品，是造成砷相关健康影响的原因之一。淹水的稻田厌氧生长条件和稻米植物独特的生理特性导致稻米中As含量增加。世界卫生组织（WHO）已将精制（即白米）大米中的砷含量咨询水平定为0.2 mg / kg，但欧盟和美国尚未为大米和大米产品中的砷含量制定法律标准。降低稻米中积累量的策略围绕着两种方法-农艺学和生物技术学。农艺方法，例如使用铁，磷，硫，硅的矿物质补充土壤，水管理，土壤通气实践以及生物制剂的使用，旨在降低砷的溶解度并降低水稻的吸收。用积累有As的作物轮作水稻也可能降低土壤As。生物技术方法涉及通过改变植物体内砷吸收，易位和螯合的基因表达来生产转基因水稻品种。这些方法与适当的饮食管理相结合，并使公众意识到由于长期暴露于大米中的砷而可能引起的健康风险，这可能在降低风险中发挥关键作用。