A new report challenges prevailing theories about Iowa's rising cancer rates, attributing them not to farm chemicals but to binge drinking, amid ongoing debate among experts.
Keith Schneider reports for The New Lede.
In short:
- The Iowa Cancer Registry reports that Iowa has the fastest-growing incidence of cancer among U.S. states.
- Critics, including health professionals, question the report's focus on alcohol consumption, pointing to the extensive use of pesticides and fertilizers in farming.
- The state's agricultural practices, including heavy pesticide use and large-scale livestock farming, are under scrutiny for their potential role in cancer rates.
Key quote:
"Is alcohol responsible for the increase in cancer incidence here since 2014? I personally doubt that."
— James Merchant, former dean of the University of Iowa College of Public Health.
Why this matters:
Iowa now ranks second only to Kentucky in the United States for its cancer incidence, with a notable uptick in cases since 2015. This alarming trend has led to the exploration of environmental exposures as a significant factor, particularly given the state's heavy use of agricultural chemicals.
Meanwhile, in Europe: European researchers have found new evidence linking popular weed-killing products to cancer at levels currently considered safe.
