R. PRASAD Two proteins in rice are responsible for transporting arsenite from soil Carcinogen: Arsenic present in the groundwater and in paddy fields irrigated by the groundwater causes skin cancer. Scientists in Japan have cracked the reason why rice is particularly efficient in assimilating arsenic from paddy soils. The findings reported in the latest issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences journal have particular relevance to West Bengal and Bangladesh where arsenic poisoning is seen.