Nitrates in water raise birth defect risk – even at 1% of “safe” levels

(NauralHealth365)  Something troubling has emerged from new research about drinking water safety.  Scientists just discovered that nitrates can impact pregnancy outcomes even when they’re present at incredibly low levels – far below what government agencies tell us is okay.

The research team looked at over 350,000 birth records in Iowa spanning from 1970 to 1988.  What they found was quite unsettling: babies exposed to just 0.1 milligrams of nitrate per liter of water – that’s only 1% of what the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) considers their safety limit – had higher chances of being born early or underweight.

This matters more than you might think.  When babies are born too early or too small, it’s the leading cause of death for newborns and young kids.  It also sets them up for developmental problems like cerebral palsy and increases their odds of dealing with obesity and diabetes later in life.

The EPA’s outdated math

Back in 1992, the EPA decided that 10 milligrams of nitrate per liter was the safe limit for drinking water.  They based this on preventing “blue baby syndrome” – a scary condition where infants can’t get enough oxygen because of how nitrates affect their blood.

But here’s the thing: this water “safety” standard is over 30 years old now, and completely misses what we’ve learned about how nitrates affect pregnancies.

“No level of nitrate in drinking water appears safe during pregnancy,” said Jason Semprini, who led this research at Des Moines University.  “We’ve suspected for decades that nitrates could cause problems during pregnancy.  Now we’ve got solid evidence that it’s actually happening.”

The study focused on Iowa because it has some of the worst nitrate contamination in the country.  During the time period they studied, nitrate levels in public water were climbing by 8% every year.  Even so, the average was 4.2 mg/L – still well under the EPA’s limit.

The invisible threat

Here’s what makes nitrate contamination so sneaky: you literally cannot tell if nitrates are present or not.  This substance has no color, no smell, no taste.  People drink contaminated water every day without thinking about this health issue.  Nitrates enter water supplies primarily through fertilizer runoff and animal waste from farms.

In this Iowa study, more than 80% of babies were exposed to some nitrates, and about 1 in 10 got exposed to levels above the federal limit.  When all was said and done, 5% of babies were born underweight and 7.5% were born too early.

The numbers get worse when you dig deeper.  Babies exposed to more than 0.1 mg/L of nitrate had a 0.66 percentage point higher risk of being born prematurely – that’s a 9% jump from normal rates.  And when exposure hit 5 mg/L or higher, the risk of low birth weight went up by 0.33 percentage points.

Where the problem lives

This isn’t just an Iowa problem.  Farming regions across Kansas, Nebraska, Minnesota, California, and Pennsylvania are all dealing with nitrate contamination.  This toxicity is even showing up in big cities like Los Angeles and Chicago now.

The health implications go beyond pregnancy, too.  The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has labeled nitrates in food and water as “probably carcinogenic.”  Some studies suggest that people drinking nitrate-contaminated water have a 73% higher risk of dying compared to those with clean water, even at low levels.

Iowa, where this study happened, ranks second in the entire country for new cancer cases.  When you consider their nitrate problem, that statistic becomes pretty ominous.

What you can do to protect yourself

While government agencies drag their feet on updating safety standards, there are things you can do right now to protect yourself and your family:

Get water filtration that actually works: Reverse osmosis systems will remove nitrates.  Those basic carbon filters most people use won’t touch nitrates, so you need the right equipment.

Support your body’s detox systems: Your liver processes nitrates, so give your liver the help needed by eating foods like garlic, onions, and cruciferous vegetables that contain sulfur compounds.

Load up on antioxidants: Nitrates create oxidative stress in your body.  Fight back with vitamin C-rich foods, organic leafy greens, and berries that provide natural protection.

Test your water: Don’t assume your water is safe just because it meets government standards.  You can get independent testing to find out what’s really in your tap water.

Go organic when you can: Organic farms use way less synthetic fertilizer, which means less nitrate contamination compared to conventional agriculture.

Keep your gut healthy: A strong digestive system might help your body handle nitrates better.  Fermented foods and probiotics can support the good bacteria you need.

Why this should make you mad and take action now

This research exposes just how badly our regulatory system is failing us.  When chemicals cause birth defects at 1% of the supposedly “safe” level, we’re talking about a complete breakdown of public health protection.

The EPA has been sitting on its hands for over 30 years while nitrate contamination keeps getting worse nationwide.  Every year, thousands of women might have pregnancy complications because of water that technically meets federal guidelines.

“This isn’t just about environmental regulations – it’s about the health of babies and mothers,” Semprini said.  “If we don’t update our standards based on what we’re learning, we might be unknowingly affecting thousands of pregnancies each year.”

This research should be a wake-up call for policymakers.  Still, this kind of news also gives regular people the information they need to protect themselves instead of waiting around for bureaucrats to maybe do something eventually.

The bottom line is simple: the government’s safety standards for nitrates in drinking water are dangerously out of date.  While we wait for them to catch up with the science, you can take steps now to protect yourself and your family from this invisible threat.

If you are concerned about nitrates and other toxins building up in your body, get access to Jonathan Landsman’s Whole Body Detox Summit, bringing together 27 leading doctors and researchers sharing practical detoxification approaches.  Discover how to eliminate chemical toxins safely, support your body’s natural cleaning processes, and protect your family from environmental contamination. Start detoxifying your body today.

Sources for this article include:

Plos.org
Childrenshealthdefense.org

The post Nitrates in water raise birth defect risk – even at 1% of “safe” levels appeared first on NaturalHealth365.

Visit Natural Health 365 Here /

Source: https://www.naturalhealth365.com/nitrates-in-water-raise-birth-defect-risk-even-at-1-of-safe-levels.html