Arsenic in Our Produce

 Recent research coming out of Boise State shows that there’s lots of arsenic in rural wells and the explanation is that these wells are not drilled as deeply as wells in municipalities. Arsenic is a naturally occurring substance, in fact it’s an element, and it exists in the sediment that lies on the land. Not surprisingly, it leaches through the soil and finds its way into wells and aquifers and, ultimately, can be found in the water producers use to irrigate their crops.

 This, then, brings up a rather disturbing question. If irrigation water contains arsenic, does this deadly element get absorbed by crops and then get passed along into the diet of consumers. I asked , BSU geochemist and water researcher Shawn Benner: “That’s a really good question and the jury is somewhat out on that but what data are available indicates that arsenic is not what we call a bio-accumulator. It doesn’t build up to really high levels in plants or animals as it moves through the food chain. One of the reasons for that is that arsenic in plants often is not in a form that is as toxic. Most people don’t think that’s a major pathway by which people are contaminated.”

 So fruits and vegetables can stay on our lists of Good things to eat…thank Goodness