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Nitrate Contamination in Groundwater Worsens in California Farm Areas

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 14:55:48 EST

A new study claims that nitrate pollution in drinking water supplies near California's Central Valley farming communities has worsened in recent decades and will continue to spread, reports the LA Times. UC Davis scientists analyzed groundwater data from the southern San Joaquin and Salinas valleys and concluded that even if all farming operations stopped immediately, nitrates would stay in the water and continue to flow into other areas.
 
Nitrates from farmers' fertilizers and manure seep into groundwater, which is used for drinking by almost all of approximately 2.65 million people in the areas examined in the study. According to MSNBC, high nitrate levels have been linked to thyroid cancer, skin rashes, hair loss, birth defects, and 'blue baby syndrome,' a potentially lethal blood disorder in infants.
 
Those most at risk for drinking water polluted with nitrates are served by small, local water systems that cannot afford treatment or those using private wells. Researchers estimate that nearly 10 percent of people in the region are drinking contaminated water and believe that 80 percent of residents will face health and financial problems by 2050 if nothing is done to combat the problem.
 
'EMSL Analytical has three decades of experience providing environmental testing services and analyzing contaminants such as nitrates,' states Joseph Frasca, Senior VP at EMSL. 'Currently, our dedicated and knowledgeable sales representatives serve clients in over 30 locations nationwide.'
 
For more information on EMSL's testing services, please contact EMSL at (800) 220-3675, visit www.EMSL.com, or email info@EMSL.com.
 
About EMSL Analytical, Inc.
EMSL Analytical is a full service testing company providing quality lab services under the same private ownership since 1981. Including the corporate lab facility in Cinnaminson, NJ, EMSL Analytical operates over 30 laboratories nationwide in the US and Canada. We provide analytical services for environmental, indoor air quality (IAQ), industrial hygiene, forensics and materials science, consumer products, food safety, PCR, pharmaceutical, asbestos, lead, and radiological samples. The company has an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations, as well as state and federal regulating bodies. Please see our website for a complete listing of accreditations.