Summary of Nitrate in Tap and Bottled Drinking Water May Be a Risk Factor for Prostate Cancer:
New research published in Environmental Health Perspectives shows that consuming nitrate through tap water and bottled water may increase the risk of prostate cancer, particularly in the case of aggressive tumors and in younger men. Nitrate is commonly found in water as a result of agricultural fertilizers and intensive livestock farming. The study suggests that eating plenty of fiber, fruit/vegetables, and vitamin C could help reduce the negative effect of nitrate in drinking water. The research team hopes this study will raise awareness of the potential environmental and human health impacts of pollutants in water and encourage authorities to ensure more rigorous control of this natural resource. Prostate cancer is currently the most common cancer in Spanish men, among whom it accounts for 22% of all tumors diagnosed, and its causes remain largely unknown.
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Nitrate is a chemical compound that is commonly found in tap water and bottled water. This contamination is mainly due to the use of fertilizers in agriculture and the manure produced by intensive livestock farming. Unfortunately, this nitrate that we consume in our water intake over our lifetime could be a risk factor for prostate cancer. The latest research from Spain’s Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives explained that younger men with aggressive tumours are more likely to suffer from prostate cancer due to the ingestion of nitrate. In this article, we will examine the research conducted by ISGlobal and explore the relationship between prostate cancer and long-term exposure to nitrate and trihalomethanes in drinking water.
Ingestion of Waterborne Nitrate and Trihalomethanes: The research conducted by ISGlobal aimed to assess whether there was an association between the ingestion of waterborne nitrate and trihalomethanes (THMs) and the risk of prostate cancer. Nitrate and THMs are two of the most common contaminants in drinking water, with nitrate coming from agricultural activities and intensive livestock farming, and THMs from the use of disinfectant chemicals in water. Nitrate is a compound that is naturally occurring, but agricultural activities have intensified its presence in the environment. Meanwhile, THMs are formed by chemical reactions between organic matter and chlorine used as the disinfectant in water treatment. Long-term exposure to THMs has been associated with an increased risk of bladder cancer, but there is limited evidence of the relationship between THMs and other cancers.
Prostate Cancer and Long-Term Exposure to Nitrate and THMs in Drinking Water: To investigate the link between prostate cancer and long-term exposure to nitrate and THMs, the research team studied 697 cases of prostate cancer in Spanish hospitals between 2008 and 2013. They also had a control group of 927 men aged 38-85 years who had not been diagnosed with cancer at the time of the study. The research estimated the average nitrate and trihalomethanes that each participant had been exposed to since the age of 18 based on where they had lived and the type of water they had drunk throughout their lives. The study found that higher nitrate levels increased the likelihood of prostate cancer. Participants with higher waterborne nitrate ingestion levels were 1.6 times more likely to develop low-grade or medium-grade prostate cancer and almost 3 times more likely to develop an aggressive prostate tumor than those who had less nitrate in their system.
Fiber, Fruit, Vegetables, and Vitamin C to Prevent Prostate Cancer: The study also discovered that the adverse effects of nitrate contamination in drinking water could be reduced by consuming fiber, fruits/vegetables, and vitamin C. These food groups may inhibit the formation of nitrosamines, which have carcinogenic potential. Moreover, antioxidants, vitamins, and polyphenols present in fruits and vegetables could combat cancerous cells’ development. Eating these types of food could also benefit intestinal bacteria, which protect against food-derived toxicants, including nitrosamines. The association between ingested nitrate and prostate cancer was only observed in men with lower intakes of fiber, fruit/vegetables, and vitamin C.
Conclusion: The study carried out by the Spanish institute, ISGlobal, indicates a significant link between nitrate in water and prostate cancer. This study provides first evidence of the connection and needs to be confirmed through further research. While being exposed to nitrates through drinking water does not necessarily lead to prostate cancer, it is crucial to control the levels of nitrate present in drinking water. Consumers also need to be mindful of the importance of diet and increase their fiber, fruit/vegetable, and vitamin C intake to reduce the negative impact of nitrate in drinking water. The research team hopes this study’s insights will encourage a review of regulatory levels to ensure safe nitrate limits in drinking water.
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