Soil samples taken from paddy fields contain Cadmium

Dharma Sri Abeyratne

Experiments carried out by the Bathalagoda Rice Research and Development Institute (RRDI) have revealed that soil samples taken from all paddy fields contain a certain amount of Cadmium. This includes soil samples taken from paddy fields where no chemical fertiliser had been used for over 30 years. A kilogram of such a soil sample, that was contaminated without using organic or inorganic fertiliser contains 0.037mg of Cadmium, the research revealed.

Issuing a press release, RRDI said by adding organic and inorganic fertilisers to paddy fields, the Cadmium rate of the soil increases. Although by adding organic ingredients to the soil, the Cadmium absorption rate of a paddy plant can be significantly reduced. The Cadmium rate of a paddy plant, which is cultivated by using both organic and inorganic fertiliser is significantly lesser than a plant cultivated by only using inorganic fertiliser. It indicates that Cadmium absorption rate can be greatly reduced by adding organic ingredients to the field.

The RRDI report rejected certain newspaper articles that said Sri Lankan rice samples contain a greater amount of Cadmium. According to such newspaper articles, only rice produced in Bangladesh contains more Cadmium than Lankan rice.These allegations are baseless, RRDI stressed. These journalists writing reports have made a great effort to create a connection between using chemical fertiliser and the Cadmium rate in rice.

But the RRDI noted that those quoted in these newspaper articles have not conducted their researches scientifically. According to the RRDI, the rice sample collecting process for Cadmium rate calculations has also not been done properly.

Therefore, the RRDI suggests that four kinds of rice samples be collected basically. Accordingly one has to collect rice samples, from where kidney disease is widespread such as Medawachchiya, Padavi Sri Pura, Maho etc.

Also rice samples, produced by using fertiliser manufactured by Bathalagoda (Kurunegala), Samanthurai (Ampara), Labuduwa (Galle), Bombuwala (Kalutara), Ambalanthota (Hambantota). In addition, rice samples should be collected from of paddy fields which have been cultivated for more than 30 years without using any inorganic fertiliser or pesticides.

Finally, the rice samples, which have been produced by using only organic fertiliser for over seven years.