The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has prioritized reviewing fluoride in drinking water, long considered safe, while delaying action on nitrate contamination from agricultural runoff that has endangered U.S. waterways for more than 15 years.
Gabriella Sotelo reports for Sentient.
In short:
- The EPA announced it will expedite a review of fluoride health risks, a move backed by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., despite fluoride’s longstanding endorsement by major health organizations.
- Nitrate contamination, primarily from livestock manure and fertilizers, has been linked to cancer, thyroid disease, and birth defects, yet a health assessment begun in 2017 remains incomplete.
- Experts warn that political ties between lawmakers and the agriculture industry hinder meaningful regulation of nitrate pollution, which has forced some communities to install costly nitrate removal systems.
Key quote:
“It would seem that there’s a pretty compelling case that we need to reevaluate science on nitrate, just as much, if not more, than what we need to be doing on fluoride.”
— David Cwiertny, director of the University of Iowa’s Center for Health Effects of Environmental Contamination
Why this matters:
Originating largely from manure and fertilizers used in industrial agriculture, nitrates seep into groundwater and rivers, contaminating drinking water supplies nationwide. Chronic exposure has been associated with serious health issues including colorectal cancer, thyroid disorders, and developmental problems in infants. Some rural areas must now rely on expensive treatment systems just to make water safe for consumption. Yet nitrate pollution lack strong regulatory action. As industrial agriculture scales up to meet demand, nitrate contamination is likely to increase, raising the stakes for public health and environmental justice advocates alike.
Related: Iowa rivers face record nitrate levels following heavy rains
