Among all the contaminants in drinking water, nitrates are one of the most pervasive. They leach from chemical fertilizers and animal manure to pollute groundwater, rivers, and streams. Scientists and health advocates are worried that nitrates could also be behind hundreds of cancer cases in farming states across the U.S.
Atrazine is the second-most widely used weed killer in the U.S., with more than 70 million pounds applied across the nation each year. It is an endocrine disruptor and also linked to various cancers, premature birth and birth defects. It has been banned for use in the European Union since 2004.