Cancer Outbreak on ‘Cancer Road’ Linked to High Levels of Nitrate in Water
Residents of County Road B in Dodge County, Minnesota have been plagued with various types of cancer for years, and now they believe they have found the common denominator. A high level of nitrate in the water from private wells, possibly due to farm fertilizers and manure, is suspected to be the cause of the cancer outbreak.
Thirteen people who lived along the 2-mile stretch of County Road B have been diagnosed with cancer over the past few decades. Some of the cancers, including non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, colon and kidney cancer, have been associated with nitrate-contaminated water. However, not all types of cancer found in the area have been studied for a nitrate connection.
Water test results obtained by Keith Schneider, chief correspondent at Circle of Blue, showed a pattern of elevated nitrate levels in many of the private wells since the mid 1980s. The tests were voluntary or conducted when a property was sold. Out of the 54 water tests, all but about a dozen showed elevated nitrate levels, some of which were double the state and federal safety limit.
The current nitrate standard set by the Minnesota Department of Health is 10 milligrams per liter. However, recent research has shown that levels above this limit are strongly linked to colorectal cancer, thyroid disease, and neural tube defects. A Mayo Clinic study conducted in southeast Minnesota counties found associations between nitrate and a range of childhood maladies, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchiectasis, thyroid disorders, suicide, and attention deficit disorders.
Despite the growing evidence of the health impacts of nitrate-contaminated water, state and local authorities have yet to take significant action. The Department of Health stated that although they have “growing concern” about the health impacts, the science does not support lowering the nitrate limit. However, many residents, including Brian Bennerotte and Scott Glarner, who grew up on County Road B and now suffer from cancer, are calling for a lower nitrate limit and increased research into the health effects of nitrate-contaminated water.
Dodge County is one of eight counties in southeast Minnesota where environmental groups have requested the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to take emergency action under the Safe Drinking Water Act. They argue that local regulations have failed to reduce nitrate levels and pose a significant threat to human health.
The Minnesota Department of Health urges residents with concerns to contact the agency and check its Cancer and the Environment web page. The agency recently set new health risk limits for over 30 contaminants in Minnesota’s groundwater, but nitrate was not included.
The story of County Road B highlights the need for further research and action to protect public health from the dangers of nitrate-contaminated water. With the high rate of cancer and other health impacts associated with nitrate exposure, it is crucial that measures are taken to ensure safe drinking water for all residents.