NITRATE

Nitrate is a growing health and water pollution problem. Nitrate pollution is found in drinking water throughout the U.S, both in rural and urban areas. It’s linked with colon, kidney, and stomach cancer,^[i] as well as esophageal cancer, ovarian cancer, bladder cancer, and birth defects. It’s hazardous to the thyroid gland as well as a reproductive system toxin.

Nitrate gets into drinking water from fertilizer, manure, factory farms, waste from septic tanks, and from public water disinfection processes. Chloramines– the main chemical used to disinfect public water supplies, breaks down into nitrate. Nitrate is often identified in private wells due to fertilizer runoff and groundwater contamination. Because of agricultural runoff and the increasing use of chloramines, the nitrate problem is growing. This is not good for people or planet.

Go to Map: https://www.ewg.org/interactive-maps/2019_nitrate/map/

SOURCES OF NITRATE

“Elevated nitrate levels in groundwater are often caused by run-off from barnyards or feedlots, excessive use of fertilizers, or from septic systems. Wells most vulnerable to nitrate contamination include shallow wells, dug wells with casing which is not watertight, and wells with damaged, leaking casing or fittings. Nitrate contamination is often regarded as a first sign of deteriorating groundwater quality.”^[iii]

Nitrate pollution is a primary reason filtering water is so important. Through filtering and purifying tap water, you can minimize your exposure to disease-causing substances like nitrate. Reverse Osmosis systems, ion exchange, and distillation are the most effective at removing nitrate.

HEALTH EFFECTS: Poisonous; cancerous, stomach cancer, colon cancer, kidney cancer, harms thyroid, esophageal cancer, reproductive toxin, bad for babies and pets; reduces red blood cell’s ability to carry oxygen, causes “blue baby syndrome,” high levels can turn lips and skin to turn bluish color, deadly if not treated immediately.

HOW WE ARE EXPOSED: Drinking contaminated water, beverages or food made from water contaminated with nitrate. Chloramines in water disinfection break down to nitrate.

SOLUTIONS

• Filter your water, for both drinking and cooking. Reverse osmosis and ion exchange are the best systems to remove nitrate from water.
• Otherwise, source water without nitrate from reputable spring water sources like Aqua Carpatica who claims to be nitrate free. As much as I don’t like plastic bottles, this might be a good option for someone without a reverse osmosis or ion exchange filter.
• We must encourage the government to stop using chloramines to purify our drinking water! Chloramines also increase lead in our water as they pull lead out of the lead pipes still in use.(Unfortunately Chicago has more miles of lead water lines still in use than any other U.S. City).
• Don’t use synthetic fertilizers on your lawn or farm.
• If you have your own well, be sure to get it tested for nitrate.
• Don’t leave your pets behind, they need good clean water too.

About the other Nitrates: This article is strictly about nitrate pollution in water. The other forms of nitrate, like that found in vegetables is naturally occurring and beneficial for us, breaking down into nitric oxide. The nitrates used in preserving meat, however, covert to nitrosamines and are linked with health issues, especially if consumed in excess.^[iv]

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Nitrate Sources

^[i] Progress.Report.Cancer.gov

^[ii] https://www.ewg.org/tapwater/nitrate-contaminates-drinking-water.php

^[iii] http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/wells/waterquality/nitrate.html

[iv] https://www.webmd.com/diet/foods-high-in-nitrates