The Meat You Eat and Cancer

Who are we supposed to believe when it comes to our health? There is a movement towards plant-based foods with many leading physicians seeing the reversal of conditions in patients following plant-based diets. 

By Gary Null PhD, Amy Mitura Esq. and Neal Greenfield, Esq.

Who are we supposed to believe when it comes to our health? There is a movement towards plant-based foods with many leading physicians seeing the reversal of conditions in patients following plant-based diets. Unfortunately, people researching the subject may come across writings by Dr. Stephen Barrett. Regarding nutrition, Barrett relies on the now scientifically debunked advice of the food pyramid where meat and dairy are the top bases of the diet, followed by wheat products, such as breads and pastas. Fruits and vegetables are given less significance. As Barrett has been a primary source for health-related articles on Wikipedia, influencing a massive audience, we decided to look at a few of the statements he has made over the years. Does he deserve to be considered an unbiased, objective authority on the subject? Judge for yourself… 

In his book The Health Robbers (last edition in 1993), Barrett argues that quacks and charlatans “claim that most Americans are poorly nourished,” saying, “this is an appeal to fear that is not only untrue, but ignores the fact that the main forms of bad nourishment in the United States are undernourishment among the poverty-stricken and overweight in the population at large.” (32) Many of Barrett’s assertions are based on the U.S. government’s original Food Guide Pyramid, which, according to Harvard School of Public Health, “conveyed the wrong dietary advice. And MyPyramid, its 2005 replacement was vague and confusing.” Again Barrett was wrong. Terribly wrong. 

Barrett has also been consistently incorrect about one of the food groups in that pyramid—meat and the chemical used during the curing process, sodium nitrite. According to Barrett, “Nitrosamines have been found to cause cancer when fed in large amounts to test animals. However, sodium nitrite is a normal component of human saliva, and some 80 percent of the nitrite in the body comes from eating celery, beets, radishes, lettuce, spinach, and other commonly consumed vegetables. So it seems a bit absurd to panic about adding small amounts of substances that prevent serious health threats while remaining unconcerned about larger amounts that are present naturally.” (Barrett 70-71) 

Barrett’s comparison of nitrosamines to sodium nitrite and commonly consumed vegetables is misleading at best. According to the National Cancer Institute, “vegetables also contain compounds that prevent the formation of N-nitroso compounds (NOC), which are known to cause cancer in animals and may cause cancer in humans.” Studies have shown increased risks of colon, kidney, and stomach cancer among people with higher ingestion of water nitrate and higher meat intake compared with low intakes of both. Other studies have shown modest evidence that higher nitrate intake can increase the risk of thyroid cancer and ovarian cancer among women. 

There are several notable studies that appear in the peer-reviewed medical literature showing the increased risk of cancer associated with higher nitrate intake: 

In 2013 the International Journal of Cancer published the Shanghai Women’s Health Study. The study, conducted by the University of Chicago, evaluated the effects of nitrite and nitrate from meat consumption in over 73,000 Chinese women. The researchers concluded that “women consuming higher levels of nitrite from animal sources, particularly from processed meat, may have an increased risk of thyroid cancer.”

 According to the Harvard School of Public Health, the World Health Organization (WHO)’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) found that “consumption of processed meat is ‘carcinogenic to humans,’ and…consumption of red meat is ‘probably carcinogenic to humans.” The IARC Working Group, comprised of 22 scientists from ten countries, evaluated over 800 studies. “Conclusions were primarily based on the evidence for colorectal cancer. Positive associations between processed meat consumption and stomach cancer, and between red meat consumption and pancreatic and prostate cancer were also identified. “Meat processing such as curing (by adding nitrates or nitrites) or smoking can lead to the formation of potentially cancer-causing (carcinogenic chemicals such as N-nitroso-compounds and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH).” 

Other health risks associated with meat consumption include cardiovascular disease and stroke, diabetes, obesity, acne, erectile dysfunction, and Alzheimer’s. A University of Wurzburg analysis of 11,000 middle-aged people concluded that those who consumed the most red meat had a 47 percent higher risk of ischemic stroke caused by artery blockage. A more recent 2016 Mayo Clinic analysis, published under the heading “Is Meat Killing Us?” reviewed 1.5 million Americans and found that all health causes for mortality was higher among regular meat-eaters.  

In an article published this June, the Union of Concerned Scientists informs us that “guidelines reflecting up-to-date science could have saved as many as 3,900 deaths from colorectal cancer and cut related medical costs by $1.5 billion.” Despite the fact that a review of the scientific evidence concluded that a healthy diet generally means less red and processed meat, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the federal agencies that have the final say on the guidelines, chose not to recommend eating less of either. 

So perhaps it wasn’t “absurd to panic” about nitrates after all. And perhaps it wasn’t wise to assume that following the U.S. dietary guidelines would keep people well-nourished. In what seems like an attempt at humor, Barrett writes, “Every group of people on earth gets cancer. So do virtually all animals (vegetarians and meat-eaters alike)…” (Barrett 9) But perhaps they don’t get cancer “alike.” Clearly the science indicates that people who rely upon the Food Pyramid and Barrett’s suggestions get cancer more than other groups. Once again, it appears to be Stephen Barrett, and anyone using him as a source, who is the real Health Robber. 

In conclusion, it is this simple, look on PubMed or any other legitimate resource and you will find a considerable amount of peer-reviewed studies–710 studies on plant-based diets and health, 4800 on vegetarian diets and health, 1059 on vegan diets and health, and 3454 on Meditteranean diets and health. Try to find one on meat-based diets and health… 

Duke Med Health News. 2010 Jan;16(1):1-2.

http://prn.fm/meat-eat-cancer/

When your thyroid gland goes into overdrive

Misdiagnosis in hyperthyroidism is quite common, because the key symptoms tend to overlap with other health conditions. Simply put, hyperthyroidism is an overactive thyroid gland that produces too much of thyroid hormones known as T3 and T4.

April 8, 2019 Health

By Datuk Dr Nor Ashikin Mokhtar

The thyroid gland, which produces thyroid hormones, is located at the front bottom part of your neck. — TNS

Located in the front section of your neck at the base, it helps to regulate body processes like metabolism, the nervous system, heart rate and body temperature, just to name a few.

Undetected or misdiagnosed hyperthyroidism puts a person at risk of damaging their thyroid gland.

This diminishing capacity to properly regulate important body processes can result in problems like the decline of energy, metabolic activity and mental function.

It even affects one’s mood, and subsequently, brings about depression.

Important test markers

Until recently, many health professionals were unaware of what to look for when testing for hyperthyroidism.

Most doctors would only glance at the numbers of hyperthyroidism tests, without truly understanding the meaning behind them.

As we now know better, here are key markers to examine when diagnosing hyperthyroidism.

Reverse T3: A body under intense stress will have high levels of the cortisol hormone.

Cortisol increases the levels of reverse T3, an inactive form of the T3 thyroid hormone. It mimics, but does not really perform the real functions of T3.

On this note, looking at total T3 and T4 levels alone do not tell you the whole story of what’s going on.

Only the free portion of T3 and T4 thyroid hormones are able to maximise their benefits on the body’s cells and those levels are important in helping to determine the health of your thyroid.

Vitamin D and magnesium: Patients with hyperthyroidism are very often found with low levels of vitamin D.

If you are found to be low in vitamin D, discuss a supplementation plan with your doctor.

Homocysteine: This amino acid is derived mainly from eating meat, but high levels of it complicate heart health and have been linked to the development of lung issues.

Studies also suggest that high levels of homocysteine is linked to patients with hyperthyroidism.

C reactive protein (CRP): The CRP-hs test gives patients and their doctors a better idea of the level of inflammation in the body.

T3 and T4 are less effective when inflammation is severe, and inflammation often plays a big role in thyroid problems.

Liver function: A substantial amount of thyroid hormones are processed in the liver.

Hence, a poorly functioning liver creates issues with metabolism, and alters the process of T3 and T4 conversion.

With a blood test, doctors can identify if liver enzymes are elevated and plan a corrective course of action.

Thyroid antibodies: Hyperthyroidism can be caused by autoimmune diseases, specifically Graves’ disease and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.

Each of these diseases are linked to different types of antibodies that can be identified in tests, so it is important to test for antibodies.

Understanding if it is your liver function, a lack of critical nutrients or problems with the pituitary glands, is also necessary in order to plan a more accurate course of treatment.

With Graves’ disease, the test is known as either TSH binding inhibiting immunoglobin (TBII) or thyroid stimulating immunoglobin (TSI).

For Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, the condition is identified by testing the antibodies attached to thyroid tissues.

Causes and symptoms

Tremors in your hands are one of the symptoms of hyperthyroidism. — 123rf.com

Women have to pay more attention to hyperthyroidism, as it is more prevalent in our gender.

If you are genetically prone to the condition, there’s a risk of developing it during pregnancy or within a year after delivery.

Overconsumption of iodine either from supplements, medicine or food, may also cause the thyroid to overproduce hormones.

Lumps in the thyroid glands are another culprit causing an overactive thyroid.

Those lumps are known as toxic nodular or multi-nodular goitre and encourage the production of excessive amounts of thyroid hormones.

Thyroiditis, which is inflammation of the thyroid gland, can occur when the immune system is weakened or the body is fighting off a virus.

This is temporary as long as you treat the problem and strengthen your immune system.

Finally, hyperthyroidism occurs due to the autoimmune diseases discussed above. Graves’ disease, which is hereditary, is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism.

In this condition, the body makes antibodies in order to combat viruses or bacteria, but these antibodies end up aggravating the thyroid instead, causing it to overproduce thyroid hormones.

Hyperthyroidism is tricky to diagnose, as its symptoms are very similar to that of other diseases. Pay extra attention to the following symptoms:

• Anxiety or nervousness

• Irregular heart beat

• Loss of weight

• Trouble falling asleep

• Fatigue

• Tremors in the hands

• Irregular periods

• Muscle weakness

• Changes in bowel movement

• Swelling in the neck

Treatment

Seafood, which is high in iodine, is a no-no if you have hyperthyroidism. — Reuters

Most of the time, doctors will prescribe antithyroid medications to balance out excess activity.

Radiation or surgery are also options to consider in treating hyperthyroidism.

Before some of these treatments are carried out, a low iodine diet is prescribed and you’ll be advised to maintain a similar diet after completing your treatment.

Apart from low iodine, consuming more of the following foods calms the inflammation in your body and reduce chronic symptoms of hyperthyroidism:

• Vitamin D – cereals fortified with vitamin D, mushrooms, cow liver and fatty fish.

• Zinc – beef, cashew nuts, pumpkin seeds, cocoa powder and chickpeas.

• Iron – green leafy vegetables, red meat, chicken, turkey, lentils and whole grains.

• Healthy fats – oils from flaxseed, olive, avocado, sunflower, and unsalted nuts and seeds.

• Selenium – tea, Brazil nuts, couscous, mushrooms and chia seeds.

But there are also foods you should avoid or eat less of. They include:

• Foods that are high in iodine, such as seafood (prawns, lobster, squid etc), milk and dairy products, egg yolks, iodised water and iodised salt.

• Foods that contain nitrates, which makes the thyroid absorb iodine in large quantities, especially processed meat like pepperoni and other cold cuts, and even vegetables like turnips, carrots, cucumber, leeks, parsley, endives and beets.

• Foods containing gluten, which may cause inflammation.

• Soy, as research indicates it interferes with treatment of hyperthyroidism.

The bottom line on hyperthyroidism is that it is treatable.

Monitor your symptoms carefully if you suspect that you might be suffering from the condition, then seek your doctor’s help in getting tested and planning a treatment plan.

https://www.star2.com/health/2019/04/08/thyroid-gland-overdrive/

Water Wars — Destroying the Essence of Life

At least 15 million Americans depend on the Mississippi River for water, but its headwaters are being polluted by industrial agriculture. Increased nitrate concentration in drinking water, which is linked to cancer and birth defects, is just one of the devastating consequences.

October 18, 2016 

Story at-a-glance

• Since 2011, about 400 square miles of forest, marshes and grasslands in the Upper Mississippi watershed have been lost to agriculture and urban development
• Forests and marshes help to keep water supplies naturally cleansed and refreshed — the opposite of what occurs when industrial agriculture moves in
• Among the environmental assaults already being seen include increased nitrate contamination in drinking water and rapidly depleting aquifers

By Dr. Mercola

Mark Twain once wrote, "The basin of the Mississippi is the body of the nation," but even the mighty Mississippi is facing mounting environmental threats.

The Mississippi River was named the second-most polluted waterway in the U.S. in 2012,1 but it still maintained swatches that were considered to be relatively pristine, particularly in the Upper Mississippi in Minnesota.

Now that, too, is being threatened by changes in the landscape, namely increasing industrial agriculture that is depleting groundwater for irrigation while flooding the area with chemicals.

Forests Rapidly Replaced With Corn, Soy and Potato Fields

Since 2011, about 400 square miles of forest, marshes and grasslands in the Upper Mississippi watershed have been lost. The once-rich natural ecosystems were cleared out to make way for agriculture and urban development.

This is the second fastest rate of land conversion in the U.S., according to a national study reported by a Star Tribune special report.2 Forests and marshes help to keep water supplies naturally cleansed and refreshed — the opposite of what occurs when industrial agriculture moves in. The Star Tribune continued:3

"That breathtaking transformation [of natural land being converted to industry] is now endangering the cleanest stretch of America's greatest river with farm chemicals, depleted groundwater and urban runoff.

At this rate, conservationists warn, the Upper Mississippi — a recreational jewel and the source of drinking water for millions of Minnesotans — could become just another polluted river."

Among the environmental assaults already being seen include increased nitrate contamination in drinking water, which is the result of fertilizer pollution. Park Rapids, Minnesota, spent $3 million to dig deeper wells due to nitrate contamination.

It's estimated that 10 percent of private drinking wells may have nitrate levels that pose dangers to pregnant women and infants.4

There's also been widespread damage to water quality, including a rise in algae-promoting phosphorus, sediment turning once clear water cloudy and bacteria. Since these contaminants are emerging in the headwaters of the Mississippi, it inevitably flows downstream, furthering the environmental destruction.

Potato Growers Stressing Out Aquifers for Irrigation

Demand for irrigation near the Upper Mississippi has increased to the point that aquifers and rivers that feed the Mississippi are becoming rapidly depleted.

R.D. Offutt, the largest potato grower in the U.S., applied for 54 irrigation permits in Minnesota in 2014 — each would allow the company to pump up to 1 million gallons of water a year from the Pineland Sands Aquifer near Park Rapids, Minnesota, according to the Star Tribune. They continued:5

"Offutt's plan represented just the latest in a burst of demand for agricultural irrigation in an area known for sandy soils that can become perfect for growing corn, soybeans and potatoes — given sufficient water.

Irrigation has increased by an average of 77 million gallons per year since 1988, or 85 percent, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR)."

Another 10,000 acres above the vulnerable aquifer have already been slated to be deforested for farming and another 20,000 acres may soon follow, according to the DNR. Further polluting the Mississippi poses significant risk not only in Minnesota but also downstream.

At least 15 million Americans depend on the river for water, as do 40 percent of migrating waterfowl in the U.S. and 25 percent North American fish species.6 It can be difficult to stop the destructive changes, since much of the vulnerable land is privately owned.

However, state agencies and conservationists, aware of the perilous state of the river and its tributaries, have purchased thousands of acres of land, or placed it under permanent easement, to help protect and preserve the environment.

Still, many areas remain at risk, not only in Minnesota but in the lower Mississippi river as well. In a rainbow-colored photograph taken by photographer J. Henry Fair, there's striking evidence of so-called "red mud" in an area south of Baton Rouge, Louisiana.7

This toxic sludge is an aluminum-processing waste product — the same substance that led to four deaths and created a state of emergency in Hungary when a broken reservoir containing the red mud flooded hundreds of houses.8

Iowa Report Highlights Health Effects of Nitrates in Drinking Water

Iowa has long faced problems with elevated levels of nitrates in drinking water and has been identified as a top contributor to pollution (nitrates and phosphorus) causing the dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico.

Now a new report released by the Iowa Environmental Council (IEC) has attempted to summarize the related health risks of nitrates in drinking water.9

Researchers reviewed over 100 studies on the health effects of nitrates in drinking water, and found multiple studies linked them to birth defects, bladder cancer andthyroid cancer.

While many of the health problems were found with nitrate levels higher than the drinking water standard of 10 mg/L, some studies suggested nitrate levels lower than the drinking water standard may still pose health risks. About 15 percent of private wells in Iowa may have nitrate levels that exceed federal standards.10

Water quality, or lack thereof, received renewed attention in Iowa recently after the water utility in Des Moines, Iowa sued three counties, alleging they polluted the river with nitrates from agricultural runoff. The water utility has already spent $1.5 million to remove nitrates from drinking water.

If the lawsuit succeeds, the agriculture industry will have to make changes to limit runoff.11 The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimates that removing nitrate from U.S. drinking water costs nearly $5 billion a year,12 which the industrial agriculture industry has been largely shielded from.

Sinkhole at Florida Fertilizer Plant May Lead to Contaminated Drinking Water

A large sinkhole has emerged under a gypsum stack at a Mosaic Co. fertilizer plant in Mulberry, Florida. Gypsum stacks are made out of phosphogypsum, a radioactive byproduct of the fertilizer industry (it's created when the companies use sulfuric acid to break down phosphate rock).

There are at least 70 gypsum stacks in the U.S., including about 20 in regions of west-central Florida, which are prone to sinkholes that allow the waste to seep into groundwater. ABC News reported:13

"The waste pile in Central Florida contains radioactive radium and uranium, radon gas, sulfates and other contaminants, according to the [U.S.] EPA[Environmental Protection Agency].

So far more than 200 million gallons of wastewater have been dumped into the Floridan Aquifer, a key drinking-water source for millions of people.

The company has found contaminants in a well being used to recover polluted water that is within a quarter mile from the hole, which means the contaminated water has reached the aquifer."

In 2015, Mosaic settled a nearly $2 billion lawsuit with the EPA due to the company's management of pollution. "In the settlement, EPA cited a need for the company to prevent the release of hazardous, highly corrosive wastewater, and to improve its detection of potential leaks and spills," ABC News continued.14

Chemical Fertilizer Use May Get Worse Before It Gets Better

Synthetic fertilizers destroy natural nitrogen found in the soil, which means farmers must use increasing amounts of the fertilizers each year just to sustain their yields.

It's estimated that in the last four decades, nitrogen fertilizer efficiency has decreased by two-thirds while their use per hectare (2.47 acres) of land has increased by seven times.15 Excess nitrogen in the soil gets mineralized into nitrate, which can then leach into water where it causes serious damage.

While fertilizer companies claim their products are necessary to feed the world, research suggests working withnature instead of against it via agroecology or "ecological farming" can produce just as much food without the need for chemical fertilizers.16 On an individual level you can help by buying food from farmers who are using natural methods and soil-regenerative techniques, such as no-till, cover crops, composting and livestock integration, instead of chemical fertilizers.

Your Water Is Probably Toxic

It's going to take change on a global scale — to industry, agriculture and public policy — to stop the water pollution that's already taking a health and environmental toll, but you can also act on an individual level to help the problem and protect yourself.

Considering the widespread contamination found in water around the globe, it's best to assume yours is less than pure and take steps to remedy it, such as using a high-quality water filtration system (unless you can verify the purity of your water). If you have well water, it would be prudent to have your water tested for nitrates and other contaminants. If you have public water, you can get local drinking water quality reports from the EPA.

To be certain you're getting the purest water you can, filter the water both at the point of entry and at the point of use. This means filtering all the water that comes into the house, and then filtering again at the kitchen sink and shower.

Unfiltered water can also expose you to dangerous chlorine vapors and chloroform gas. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other U.S. government agencies report that most homes in the U.S. have measurable levels of chloroform gas, courtesy of chlorinated tap water.

Unless you have a whole house water filter, chlorine will vaporize from every toilet bowl in your home and every time you wash your clothes or dishes, or take a shower or bath. Chloroform gas, chlorine vapors and the associated DBPs may increase your risk of asthma, airway inflammation and respiratory allergies. Chloroform gas alone can cause dizziness, nausea and general fatigue.

If you get your water from a municipal water supply and don't have a whole house filter, it really is important to open up windows on opposing sides of your home so you get cross ventilation. Keep the windows open for five to 10 minutes a day to remove these gases. Ideally, use a whole house filtration system.

One of the best I've found so far is the Pure & Clear Whole House Water Filtration System, which uses a three-stage filtration process — a micron sediment pre-filter, a KDF water filter and a high-grade carbon water filter — to filter out chlorine, disinfection byproducts (DBPs) and other contaminants. You can find more information about water filters in my video below.

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2016/10/18/drinking-water-nitrate-contamination.aspx

Nitrates poison water in California's Central Valley

In California's Central Valley, where verdant fields of fruit and vegetables unfurl under sunny skies, the water that feeds them—and flows into taps across the region—contains a toxic and silent poison.

20 September 2016

Agricultural fertilizers as well as cow manure from dairy farms have led to domestic wells in California's Central Valley having dangerously high levels of nitrates

The very same farmers who have tilled and cultivated the earth for decades in one of America's biggest produce regions have also poisoned it, dumping millions of tons of fertilizer, which has found its way into many of the region's aquifers.

Nitrates, a residue left behind by intensive farming, now lurk in the water in a number of communities, many of them poor and rural.

For years, Cristobal Chavez has been drinking the water directly from the faucet, never imagining that he, his wife and their children were in danger of nitrate poisoning.

The water "tasted normal," said the former truck driver, who lives in the agricultural town of Porterville, is a foster parent and now runs a day care—meaning lots of children have consumed the water in his home over the years.

Several months ago, the Community Water Center (CWC) nonprofit association discovered that water in the family's well contained twice as many nitrates as the maximum allowed under state standards.

According to a study by the University of California, Davis, some 250,000 people in the region are at risk of excessive exposure to nitrates.

In California's top farming regions, up to 250,000 consumers are highly susceptible to encountering nitrate contamination in their drinking water, according a report released earlier this month

Most of the tainted communities are small and cut off from larger water distribution networks, making them dependent on wells. The majority are poor, and most residents are Latino, with few speaking English well.

The California State Water Resources Control Board, which monitors public distribution systems in large cities, has no jurisdiction over private wells.

One of its branch chiefs, Kurt Souza, said that county authorities are "trying to target the areas they feel are the most critical," but admitted they had probably missed some contaminated spots.

'Health emergency'

The toxic effects of nitrates are widely recognized by World Health Organization and US health officials, and are particularly dangerous for children and pregnant women.

Nitrates can sometimes cause a deadly blood disorder called "blue baby" syndrome, in which the blood's capacity for carrying oxygen is reduced, in addition to causing increased miscarriages and fetal deformations.

The well of the Nunez' family home (pictured) is tainted with dangerously high levels of nitrates making it undrinkable

The substance is also thought to play a role in kidney and thyroid problems, and may cause certain cancers.

Nitrates are "a public health emergency," said Jennifer Clary, an advocate at CWC.

According to a CWC report, the rate of blue baby syndrome is 40 percent higher in the Porterville area than the California average.

California's Public Health Department was unable to provide statistics on blue baby syndrome, and says it does not collect data on the broader impact of nitrates in the Central Valley.

"There is a total lack of transparency, this is of a crisis proportion," Erin Brockovich, the environmental crusader portrayed by Julia Roberts in her Oscar-winning role in the 2000 eponymous Hollywood film, told AFP.

Cristobal Chavez poses in is home with the only drinking water he and his family have - bottled water received through emergency deliveries

'Ticking time bomb'

"Most communities suffering are not sophisticated enough to demand change, and since they are predominantly from a migrant status there has never been a push really to get anything done," said Bob Bowcock, an expert who works with Brockovich.

Honorio Nunez, who is Mexican and makes a living picking oranges, discovered with the help of CWC that his tap water in Porterville is contaminated with nitrates and bacteria.

Although his family has been using water bottles, which have been delivered for the past two years by emergency services due to a drought that has dried out area wells, he and his wife worry about the water that they and their children drank before that.

"The vast number of smaller communities with this nitrate contamination are a ticking time bomb," Brockovich said.

Authorities have indicated a willingness to toughen legislation on the amount of nitrates farmers can use, but are still in the information gathering stage.

The very same farmers who have tilled and cultivated the earth for decades in one of America's biggest produce regions have also poisoned it

"It will take 10 years for the government to even regulate them," Brockovich said.

Of the 1,500 Porterville homes that are being connected to a larger water distribution network, only 10 percent are expected to be on-stream within the next year.

"If we don't do anything 80 percent of people (in parts of the Central Valley) could be impacted by nitrates by 2050," said Deborah Ores of the CWC.

Meanwhile, many of Porterville's residents are simply stuck, with no place else to go.

"We've seen people interested in buying the house," Chavez said of his property.

But when they find out about the nitrates, all hope will be lost, he said.

 Explore further: Drought-hit US town learns to live without water

© 2016 AFP

http://phys.org/news/2016-09-nitrates-poison-california-central-valley.html

High levels of nitrate in German groundwater, drinking water

Groundwater in up to one third of Germany contains nitrate levels of over 50 milligrams per liter. Politicians across the spectrum have pointed the finger at farmers and called for stricter regulations on fertilizers.

16 September 2016

The amount of nitrate in Germany's groundwater has risen sharply in recent years, polluting drinking water, local media reported on Friday.

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What the Bayer-Monsanto merger means for food, farmers and the environment

Monsanto's takeover by Bayer could create a GMO juggernaut too powerful for Europe to resist, while conveniently "disappearing" a tarnished brand, critics say. Concerns abound over concentration in the seed market. (15.09.2016)

EU sues Germany over water tainted by nitrate fertilizer

Why Germans are demanding a shift in agriculture

Many areas measured nitrate levels of over the legal limit of 50 milligrams per liter in the groundwater. According to a report released by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, almost one third of Germany's surface area is affected. The worst affected states are North Rhine-Westphalia, Schleswig-Holstein and Lower Saxony, where 40 percent, 50 percent and 60 percent of land, respectively, is affected.

According to the ministry, the agricultural sector is the main reason for the high nitrate levels, specifically intensive livestock farming and the excessive use of fertilizer. The Green Party representative and chairman of the parliamentary environmental commission, Bärbel Höhn, called for a "reboot in the agricultural sector."

"Large-scale livestock farming is ruining our groundwater," Höhn said. "There are too many animals and the price of meat has plummeted. This is the price we have to pay for cheap schnitzels."

Green Party agricultural ministers in North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony had pressured Berlin for months to put new rules in place governing the use of fertilizer. They described the parliament's lackluster controls as a failure. "In light of these momentous problems, I am stunned that the parliament has not done anything about it," said Höhn.

Calls for new fertilizer regulations

Environmental Minister Barbara Hendricks said the agricultural sector needs to take a bold new direction and called for new regulations on the use of fertilizers.

Hendricks' ministry had already made such proposals, which aim to limit when and how much fertilizer farmers can use on their fields. The minister for food and agriculture, Christian Schmidt, echoed these remarks.

"The agricultural sector has the power to effect positive change," he said. "That's why we have strived to introduce new regulations for fertilizers for some time."

Amendments to the current law, however, remain lacking and are not scheduled for review until the beginning of 2017, according to the Environment Ministry.

Farmer's Association aims to guard against new regulations

 

Listen to audio06:56

Clean water is a thing of the past

The German Farmers' Association, the country's professional representation for agriculture and forestry, has criticized the proposed regulations. Responding to questions posed by the German public broadcasters NDR and WDR, the group said groundwater nitrate levels have improved notably since 2012.

The association also said regulating fertilizers would be problematic, as it would incorporate many detailed provisions that are too rigid and impractical.

Impending EU action

The European Union is aiming to file a claim in the European Court of Justice against Germany for failing to abide by directives regarding nitrate levels in groundwater.

While the nitrate itself is not poisonous, the human body can transform it into the much more damaging chemical nitrite, which blocks the flow of oxygen in the blood. By then transforming into nitrosamine, it is also believed to indirectly cause cancer.

Infants are particularly prone to nitrite poisoning, which is why the EU introduced an upper limit for nitrate levels in water in the mid-1990s.

http://www.dw.com/en/high-levels-of-nitrate-in-german-groundwater-drinking-water/a-19557211