Does rice contain both PFAS and heavy metals at the same time?

What's actually in it

Rice grows in paddies flooded with water. If that irrigation water contains PFAS — which it often does in areas near industrial sites, airports, or farming operations that use PFAS-treated equipment — the rice plant absorbs it. Rice also absorbs arsenic, cadmium, and lead from soil more readily than most grains.

The result: one bowl of rice can deliver both a dose of PFAS forever chemicals and a dose of heavy metals at the same time. Most safety assessments look at each contaminant separately, which understates the combined risk.

What the research says

A 2026 study in J Agric Food Chem analyzed PFAS and heavy metal co-occurrence in rice samples, measuring bioaccumulation rates and estimating dietary risk. The study found both classes of contaminants present simultaneously, with dietary risk assessment showing co-exposure as a meaningful health concern — especially for daily rice consumers.

PFAS in rice were primarily shorter-chain replacements for PFOA and PFOS. Heavy metals included cadmium and arsenic, which accumulate in kidneys and are known carcinogens.

Vary your grains — mix rice with quinoa, oats, or other grains to reduce reliance on rice as the sole grain. Rinse rice before cooking. Parboiled rice absorbs less arsenic. See non-toxic kitchen alternatives for safer food storage and preparation.