This website is best viewed in a browser that supports web standards.

Skip to content or, if you would rather, Skip to navigation.

Listen Live
Donate
MARYVILLE

KXCV-KRNW


News Brief

May 14, 2025

Nitrates near commercial agriculture operations affect Iowa's most vulnerable populations

New research at Iowa State University shows elevated nitrate levels have an outsize effect on Iowa's most vulnerable populations. Studies show exposure to nitrates can increase the rists of birth defects and various types of cancer. ISU Water Resources Assistant Professor Lu Liu says nitrates, which are prominent in ground and surface water near commercial agriculture operations, exceed safe levels, and affect Iowa's most vulnerable.

"Such as people of color, low-income populations, elderly and also children.", says Professor Liu. 

Despite their negative health impacts, the Iowa Environmental Council reports only four percent of public water utlities in Iowa have nitrate removal systems. The data show the presence of nitrates in the water is especailly high in rural communitites and Liu says northeast Iowa's Blackhawk County stands out in her research.

"This county has very high nitrate in their drinking water, so people living in that county are disproportionately exposed to high nitrate in their drinking water.", says Professor Liu. 

Liu's research includes an interactive map that shows which parts of the state have the highest nitrate pollution in their groundwater. Her work was published in "Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology."