‘Cancer is just everywhere’: could farming be behind Iowa’s unfolding health crisis? | US news

SMonths ago, Alex Hamer was diagnosed with colon cancer at the age of 37. Diane Chambers may carry surgery, chemotherapy and dozens of radiation rounds to fight aggressive breast cancer, and Yanan Hogan spends most days in the care of her 16 -year -old grandson, who is still treating brain cancer at the age of seven.

The three were among a group of about twenty people who met last week in a small town in the middle yeah To exchange their experiences in cancer. They are part of a new research project looking Cancer “crisis”.

During the past few years, yeah He had the second highest rate of cancer in the country, which is only one of the two American states where cancer is increasing.

“People in rural societies get sick. Cancer is only everywhere,” said Kerry Johansson, director of politics in the Environment Council in Iowa, a non -profit organization that focuses on improving the environment that helps to lead the project. “Everyone I am talking to knows someone with him [recently] “I have a diagnosis of cancer. It is just a dark shield. It’s scary,” she said.

Kentucky, the only country with a high percentage of cancer from Iowa, was historically classified first In smoking adultsAnd, which is a major role in high cancer rates in the state.

In Iowa, the reason was less clear. Last year, a government report Alcohol consumption was martyred As a major factor. Top levels of average of radon, which is a natural gas that does not happen in color, is known to cause cancer, It is also a source of anxiety.

But many population blames pesticides, herbal pesticides and other pesticides widely used on farms as well as the continuous problem of state with high levels of dangerous nitrates that wash the farm fields in the state water supply.

As a major American farm country, Iowa has long been known for the lush green legs of the atom that extends to the end of the end through the horizon. with Almost 87,000 farmsThe country ranks first not only to produce corn, but also to produce pork and eggs, and it is among the five best states of soybeans and livestock raising.

Of the 35.7 meters of acres of the total land 31M devoted to cultivation.

Many pesticides are routinely associated with A group of diseases, Including famous herbal pesticides, which Categorize As a possible human cancerous substance by cancer experts at the World Health Organization. Nitrates are also CancerEspecially when consumed in drinking water or other food sources.

Agricultural fertilizers and fertilizers are widely wealth The main sources of nitrates, Which is known to pollute surface water and groundwater.

In addition to looking at pesticides and nitrates, the research will also look at cancer links to polypurukol (PFAs).

Earlier this year, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Warning against the high risk of cancer Concerning such fertilizers contaminated with PFAS.

Elise Boule, a former community health advisor at the Ministry of Health in Iowa, who is the main researcher of the project, said the work will also include a deeper look at high radon levels in the state as a major cause of cancer. Radon, a major cause of lung cancer, is especially high in Iowa, with almost 50 % of homes Facing the levels of radon over the levels of federal organizational work.

“We really want to know the reason for increasing these cancers,” Pohl said. “We enter the agricultural side of things.”

Focusing on agricultural practices as a potential cause of high cancer rates is controversial, according to Adam Shirfar, the director of wellness and nutrition at the Harkin Institute, which helps in leading this initiative.

Agriculture contributes about 159.5 billion dollars to the state’s economy-nearly a third of the total economic product in Iowa, according to Iowa farm office. The impact of industry is strong, according to Cherifer.

“In the minds of most people, he escaped from the country for healthy life and hygiene, however … the elephant in the room is that we are practicing industrial agriculture and we have a government that was subject to great agriculture and was allowed to do everything they want,” said Charrever.

The Iowa Federation Policy Director, Tommy Hixl, said that many farmers are concerned about the health effects of their use of pesticides, but they are reluctant to be very vocal.

“We have a lot of people who are traditional farmers who are concerned about it,” Hixlt said. “They are concerned about cancer in their families. But they do not want to be frank about an industry that provides them with basic tools.”

Several agricultural organizations were asked and their views about the new study and the concerns of relations between agriculture and cancer, but only one bond, the Association of Corn farmers in Iowa.

“We are interested in looking at all the possible causes of cancer,” said Rodney Williamson, Vice President of the Association for Research and Sustainability. He pointed to smoking, radon, obesity, family tanning, and alcohol as an additional possible reason to look at it. “We must look at all of these.”

He said that when it comes to insecticides, the association urges farmers to follow the recommendations of the Environmental Protection Agency, which is “intensively” of the pesticides of potential cancer, and to ensure that pesticides are applied appropriately.

I wonder and anxiety

At the hearing last week in Indianola, Chambers described how breast cancer was diagnosed at the age of 50. She lives about 20 miles south of Indianola, where she and her husband are cultivated about 1,000 acres. She said that many others in her area also suffered from cancers, and although she does not know the cause of her illness, which is now in a critical position, she remains far from farm chemicals.

“Do I think they are chemicals? Do I am concerned about water?” I asked a speech. “I do.”

With funding from donations from individuals and institutions, the research team plans to produce a report based on a wide review of years of published scientific studies as well as the anecdotal information collected in listening sessions. The researchers hope to issue some initial results later this year.

Dr. Richard Diming, a cancer doctor in Iowa for 36 years, said he donated personal money to the project because he feels that more independent research is needed to inform policies that can help reduce cancer rates.

“He does not try to throw any industry under the bus. But many people scratch their heads now,” he said. “As a cancer doctor who takes care of patients, I have one opportunity for one patient to try to help … but if you can prevent cancer, you can already make a difference greater than treating every cancer that comes to your office.”

This story is published with New LadyThe Press Project for the Environmental Work Group