Nitrate Pollution Affects Farming Communities

Thousands of residents in California’s Central Valley farming communities are experiencing nitrate contamination in groundwater from animal manure and fertilizer, according to a new study.

MSNBC reports that researchers at the University of California, Davis found that almost 10 percent of the 2.6 million people living in Salinas Valley and Tulare Lake Basin may be consuming nitrate-contaminated water. They warn that about 80 percent of the residents could be at risk of financial and health problems by 2050 due to the contamination.

High nitrate levels in drinking water were connected to skin rashes, birth defects, thyroid cancer, hair loss, and “blue baby syndrome,” a potentially deadly blood disorder in infants.

If you or a loved one has been harmed by chemical exposure, contact Sokolove Law for a free legal consultation.

Photo courtesy of karmadude via Flickr.