Toxic metals pollute 17% of global cropland, threatening food safety

These are the areas where farmland is tainted by toxic metals

A major new study warns that up to 17% of the world’s cultivated land is contaminated with at least one toxic heavy metal, posing a health risk to as many as 1.4 billion people. The research, published in the journal Science, is one of the most comprehensive global assessments of soil contamination ever conducted. It highlights the scale of a problem that often remains invisible beneath our food systems. The study was led by Deyi Hou, an environ…

Toxic metals pollute 17% of global cropland, threatening food safety

A new study reveals that 14–17 % of global cropland, roughly 242 million ha (598 million acres), is contaminated with toxic metals, affecting food safety for up…

Between 14 and 17 per cent of the world's cropland is contaminated with at least one heavy metal, according to a study published in the journal Science on 17 April 2025. This pollution poses a health hazard of up to 1.4 billion people, warn scientists.