'Dangerous' Compounds Found in Oregon Drinking Water

"Dangerous" levels of nitrates have been found in drinking water in eastern Oregon because of factory farms in the area, a report by Food & Water Watch said.

Newsweek reached out by email to Food & Water Watch, a nongovernmental organization that advocates for healthy food and clean water, for comment.

Why It Matters

Recently, attention has turned to drinking water's quality nationwide, particularly in terms of the presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, in the water. PFAS can cause harm in high quantities.

However, other chemicals and compounds can also affect drinking water and make it dangerous for humans. In eastern Oregon, when manure is sprayed on farm fields, it can seep into the groundwater and contaminate wells with dangerous levels of nitrates.

What To Know

On Tuesday, Food & Water Watch, which focuses on government accountability relating to food, water and corporate overreach, published a press release and series of maps that show the presence of factory farms, such as beef feedlots and dairy farms, located in "already polluted Groundwater Management Areas (GWMAs) — posing a further risk to communities' drinking water."

According to the release, irrigated agriculture and factory farms contribute to nitrate contamination in the area when they spray nitrogen-rich manure on farm fields. The product can then seep into groundwater and contaminate local drinking water sources.

The maps and press release come as Oregon's Legislature considers updating local groundwater laws. A recently proposed bill, Senate Bill 80, would restrict permits for new factory farms in the state's designated GWMAs in an effort to limit ongoing pollution that is "exacerbating the public health crisis in these already overburdened communities."

A study in the National Library of Medicine on nitrate levels in drinking water said those levels have increased across the globe "largely due to applications of inorganic fertilizer and animal manure in agricultural areas" and are associated with numerous health impacts.

One of the biggest concerns was with infant methemoglobinemia, a rare blood disorder. The study also said there is a higher risk for certain cancers and birth defects when excessive nitrates are consumed.

What People Are Saying

Food & Water Watch Oregon organizer Aimee Stone said in the press release: "Access to clean, safe water is a basic human right, yet for decades communities here in Oregon have been exposed to dangerous levels of nitrates in their drinking water. We have made some important strides in regulating the industries that are contributing to this disaster, but we can't stop until polluters are held accountable, and every Oregonian has access to clean, safe drinking water."

The study in the National Library of Medicine on nitrate levels in drinking water said: "Considering all studies, the strongest evidence for a relationship between drinking water nitrate ingestion and adverse health outcomes (besides methemoglobinemia) is for colorectal cancer, thyroid disease, and neural tube defects."

What Happens Next

Oregon's Senate Bill 80 is currently before a Senate committee. Food & Water Watch said it planned to gather at the state Capitol later this month in support of SB80.