Can rice cadmium contamination increase liver cancer risk?

What's actually in it

Rice grown in cadmium-contaminated soil absorbs the metal into every grain. Cadmium enters farmland from mining, industrial waste, and phosphate fertilizers. In regions where rice is the staple food, people eat cadmium with every meal. The metal builds up in your liver and kidneys over years of daily exposure.

What the research says

A 2026 study in Environ Geochem Health combined geographic mapping with individual-level health data to link rice cadmium exposure to liver cancer in a high-risk area of China. The study found a direct connection between cadmium levels in local rice and liver cancer rates in the population.

Cadmium is classified as a Group 1 carcinogen. It damages liver cells through oxidative stress and interferes with DNA repair. People who eat contaminated rice as their main grain for decades face the highest risk.

If rice is your staple grain, vary your sources and choose rice from regions with lower soil contamination. Cook rice in excess water and drain it to remove some cadmium. Mix in other grains like quinoa, millet, and barley throughout the week.