e-Bulletin December 2025
RESEACH INSIGHTS |
Silica Particles in Wheat Flour
Environmental Links to Cancer Risk
A recent study by Professor Tian Linwei, our Associate Professor, and his team discovered that wheat flour from drier, high-ESCC (Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma) arid regions in northern China contains almost twice as many sharp, needle-like silica particles. While washing can reduce the presence of these particles, it does not fully remove them, particularly in regions where water is scarce. The findings suggest that environmental factors like aridity may increase silica intake and potentially contribute to geographic disparities in cancer risk.
The findings have now been published in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Research. Click here to view the publication.