Nitrates in Drinking Water May Cause Birth Defects. A report released on July 15 confirms what I’ve been suggesting for a long time: nitrates far below the USEPA of 10 parts per million (ppm or mg/l). People who live in farming communities (particularly in California, Illinois, Iowa, and Texas) are regularly exposed to drinking water containing nitrates in excess of 10 ppm. The study showed that women who drink water with nitrates in excess of 5 ppm are more likely to give birth to babies with birth defects, including spina bifida, cleft palate and missing limbs.
The study showed that women who drink water with nitrates in excess of 5 ppm are more likely to give birth to babies with birth defects
Nitrates of 5 ppm have also been associated with bladder cancer in post menopausal women. For years I’ve been telling people that I will not drink water with even 3 ppm of nitrates. Now my suspicions that even low levels of nitrates are dangerous have been confirmed by this study.
“We went beyond other studies to find out how much water pregnant women were drinking at home and at work,” said lead scientist Jean Brender, associate dean for research and a professor at the Texas A & M Health Science Center’s School of Rural Public Health.
The study focused on Iowa and Texas where nitrate problems are found in the groundwater. Nitrates can come from farm fertilizers and dairy waste. Nitrates in drinking water are a huge problem in Iowa and other midwestern farm states. Other sources include septic systems which can contaminate your own or neighbor’s well water.
Nitrates in Drinking Water May Cause Birth Defects. Whether you have city water or well water the presence of nitrates is extremely dangerous. To learn how to protect yourself, visit While USEPA has a level of 10 ppm that they consider dangerous. My own level is 3 ppm.
