Heavy rainfall is increasing nitrate pollution in rivers, and experts believe better farming practices could help control it.
Rachel Cramer reports for Harvest Public Media.
In short:
- Nitrate concentrations spike during wet years, washing into waterways from farm fertilizers and soil, impacting drinking water and ecosystems.
- Rising nitrate levels in rivers contribute to health risks, including cancer, and harm marine life, especially in the Gulf of Mexico’s "dead zone."
- Experts suggest cover crops and better fertilizer management as key solutions to reduce nitrate pollution from farms.
Key quote:
“The way we regulate nitrate now is probably not adequately protective for public health.”
— Keeve Nachman, associate director of the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future
Why this matters:
Increased nitrate pollution threatens public health and ecosystems by contaminating drinking water and fueling harmful algal blooms. Effective solutions lie in improving farm practices and infrastructure to reduce runoff during extreme weather events.
Learn more: Soils reveal a hidden cost of farming, and fertilizers
