A March 2024 study published in Public Health delivered sobering news: detecting nitrate in your drinking water is associated with a 73% increased risk of cancer mortality.1 Further, for every 10-fold increase in drinking water nitrate levels, your risk of dying from cancer climbs by a staggering 69%.
Even more alarming, these increased risks persist even when nitrate levels are below the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) safety limits. These findings paint a concerning picture of a widespread yet often overlooked danger lurking in our water supplies.
For decades, the EPA has maintained a legal limit for nitrates in drinking water, primarily to prevent blue baby syndrome — a serious condition in infants where blood oxygen levels plummet, most commonly due to nitrates in drinking water or formula.
However, as reported by investigative journalist Natasha Gilbert in a U.S. Right to Know article, co-published with Sierra, this limit was established over 30 years ago and doesn’t safeguard against cancer and other long-term health issues.2
Scientists and public health advocates are now urging the EPA to reconsider these outdated standards, pointing to mounting evidence and rising cancer rates in agricultural regions where nitrate contamination is rampant.
EPA’s Cancer Risk Reassessment Exposed
Gilbert’s detailed report3 unpacks the EPA’s renewed evaluation of nitrate and nitrite risks, initiated in June 2023, which specifically aims to explore connections to cancer and other health issues such as thyroid disease. It highlights that, remarkably, it was 15 years prior that EPA scientists first suggested this very evaluation, signaling a long-standing concern within the agency itself.
The article quotes Kimberly Harris, a former health effects specialist at the EPA, who in a 2017 email stated her office had been “advocating for updates to the nitrate/nitrate drinking water regulations for some time,” further emphasizing the internal drive for regulatory reform. However, this push for updated regulations has faced significant roadblocks and now faces potential derailment.4
Industry groups, particularly from the food and agriculture sectors, are actively pushing back against stricter nitrate controls. Their primary argument centers around the claim that tightening regulations would be excessively expensive and deliver no tangible health benefits.5 These groups have even gone so far as to commission studies that attempt to minimize the necessity for more stringent nitrate limits.
Elizabeth Southerland, former director of the EPA’s Office of Science and Technology, aptly notes in the article that “The objective is to paralyze so that you cannot move forward until you have many more years of study,” highlighting this as a common industry tactic to stall regulatory action.6
Meanwhile, the industry points to the supposed health benefits of nitrates found in foods like fruits and vegetables. However, independent scientists are quick to counter this argument, stressing that nitrates in drinking water pose a distinct and more direct health risk.
Catherine Zeman, an environmental health scientist at James Madison University in Virginia, clarifies in the article that “drinking water is just a straight shot of nitrate, nothing in opposition,” unlike vegetables that contain protective compounds.7 This distinction underscores the need to treat nitrates from different sources separately in risk assessments.8
According to Gilbert, industry groups are even promoting research funded by entities like PepsiCo that suggests the current acceptable daily intake of nitrates is too low and could be quadrupled, a claim contested by experts like Zeman who labels it as being based on a “blatant untruth.”9
Despite industry resistance, the EPA’s nitrate reassessment is a necessary action to determine if current drinking water standards are genuinely protecting public health, especially in light of emerging research linking nitrate exposure to increased cancer risks.10
As Michael Schmidt, staff attorney for the Iowa Environmental Council, states in the article,11 “We have endured drinking water contamination for decades, and action to ensure our health is overdue.”
Study Establishes Direct Link Between Nitrate and Cancer Death
The Public Health study cited earlier investigated whether long-term exposure to nitrate in drinking water elevates the risk of death from cancer, cardiovascular disease and other causes.12 To accomplish this, scientists used data from 2,029 participants in a national health survey conducted between 2005 and 2006, tracking their health outcomes for 13.9 years.
Nitrate was detected in over half of the drinking water samples analyzed from the participants.13 While the median nitrate concentration was relatively low, just 0.77 milligrams per liter (mg/L), some samples contained as much as 80.5 mg/L.14 Disturbingly, even seemingly low levels showed a significant correlation with increased cancer deaths.15 As mentioned, the detection of any nitrate in drinking water was associated with a 73% higher risk of dying from cancer.16
Further analysis revealed a clear dose-response relationship, which means that as nitrate levels rise, so too does the likelihood of dying from cancer.17 Adding to the concern, the increased risk of cancer death persisted even when nitrate levels were below the EPA’s maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 10 mg/L nitrate-nitrogen.
In fact, nitrate levels below this legal limit were still linked to a 61% increased risk of cancer mortality for every 10-fold increase in concentration.18 The implications of these findings are profound for U.S. public health.
The research suggests that current EPA safety standards for nitrate in drinking water are not protective enough, particularly as it pertains to cancer risk. With nitrate contamination being widespread due to agricultural practices and animal waste, a significant portion of the population could be unknowingly exposed to levels that elevate their risk of lethal cancer.19
Large Review Strengthens Link Between Nitrate and Stomach Cancer
A systematic review with meta-analysis published in Environmental Research in 2022 also examined the link between nitrate and nitrite contamination in drinking water and cancer risk.20 The review included 60 different research papers, covering 17 types of cancer, revealing a significant connection between nitrate exposure and stomach cancer specifically.
In fact, for every 10 milligrams per liter (mg/L) increase in nitrate concentration, the risk of developing gastric cancer nearly doubled. Meta-analysis, the method used in this review, is particularly powerful because it combines the statistical results of multiple studies to identify consistent patterns and strengthen the overall evidence.
One mechanism through which nitrates in drinking water could increase cancer risk, particularly stomach cancer, involves the formation of nitroso compounds (NOCs).21 When you ingest nitrates, your body converts them into nitrites.22 In the acidic environment of your stomach, these nitrites then react with other compounds to form NOCs, some of which are known carcinogens.23
The analysis also noted that nitrite ingested through food, especially processed meats, is considered a significant risk factor for certain cancers.24
How to Take Action to Protect Your Drinking Water
It’s clear that nitrate contamination in drinking water is a serious issue, but the good news is, you’re not powerless. There are practical steps you can take to protect yourself and your family and become part of the solution to this widespread problem. Here are some key actions to ensure your water is as safe as possible.
1. Install a reverse osmosis filter — If you are concerned about nitrates in your drinking water, the most direct action to take in your own home is to install a reverse osmosis (RO) filter. These filtration systems are designed to remove nitrates, effectively reducing your exposure right at the tap. This is a tangible step you can implement immediately to control the quality of your drinking water.
2. Know your water source — Do you know where your drinking water comes from? If you’re on a public water system, find out if your water utility regularly tests for nitrates and makes those results publicly available. If you rely on a private well, it’s important to have your well water tested by a certified laboratory. Understanding your water source and its vulnerabilities is the first step in taking informed action.
3. Advocate for stricter drinking water regulations — Current drinking water regulations are not adequate to protect against cancer risks. Your voice matters. Contact your local, state and federal representatives to express your concerns about nitrate contamination and the need for stricter limits on agricultural runoff and industrial pollution.
Joining or supporting environmental and health advocacy groups amplifies your impact and pushes for policy changes that protect everyone’s water.
4. Support sustainable agriculture — The root cause of much nitrate pollution is conventional agricultural practices. Make choices that support farmers who use sustainable methods that minimize fertilizer and manure runoff.
Consider buying locally from farmers markets or joining Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs that prioritize regenerative farming. Your food choices indirectly influence water quality and reduce the overall demand for practices that lead to nitrate contamination.
5. Stay informed and spread awareness — Keep yourself updated on the latest research and news regarding nitrate contamination in drinking water. Share what you learn with your friends, family and community. The more people who are aware of this issue, the greater the collective pressure will be on industries and policymakers to enact meaningful changes. Awareness is a powerful tool for driving action and safeguarding public health.
Source:
articles.mercola.com
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