Differential correlation between nitrate levels in Iowa's public water systems and cancer incidence
Description
Nitrate levels in public water systems (PWS) have become a growing topic of public health concern in Iowa. Recent studies have shown that nitrates in drinking water can be associated with increased incidence of certain cancers.
PWS data was retrieved from a study by Mantey et al., who gathered data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Safe Drinking Water Information System, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, and EPA’s Safe Enforcement and Compliance History Online. Cancer incidence rates in Iowa were obtained from the State Cancer Profiles database.
Rural high nitrate areas had greater mean colon and rectal cancer incidence than rural low nitrate areas (p = 0.0303) and urban low nitrate areas (p = 0.0004). Urban high nitrate areas had greater mean colon and rectal cancer incidence than urban low nitrate areas (p = 0.0384). Nitrate levels were positively correlated with colon and rectal cancer (r = 0.2258, p = 0.0286). Nitrate levels were not correlated with all cancer type incidence (r = 0.1149, p = 0.2649) and kidney and renal pelvis cancer incidence (r = -0.06596, p = 0.5713).
A differential correlation was observed between nitrate levels in Iowa’s PWSs and cancer incidence, with a weak positive correlation with colon and rectal cancer. To help reduce the incidence of colon and rectal cancer, it is recommended that measures be implemented to lower nitrate levels in both rural and urban areas with high PWS nitrate concentrations.
Citation Information
Schany, Nicholas; Bell, Scott; and Fang, Yujiang, "Differential correlation between nitrate levels in Iowa's public water systems and cancer incidence" (2026). Office of Research DMU Research Symposium. 5.
https://digitalcommons.dmu.edu/researchsymposium/2025rs/2025abstracts/5
Differential correlation between nitrate levels in Iowa's public water systems and cancer incidence
Nitrate levels in public water systems (PWS) have become a growing topic of public health concern in Iowa. Recent studies have shown that nitrates in drinking water can be associated with increased incidence of certain cancers.
PWS data was retrieved from a study by Mantey et al., who gathered data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Safe Drinking Water Information System, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, and EPA’s Safe Enforcement and Compliance History Online. Cancer incidence rates in Iowa were obtained from the State Cancer Profiles database.
Rural high nitrate areas had greater mean colon and rectal cancer incidence than rural low nitrate areas (p = 0.0303) and urban low nitrate areas (p = 0.0004). Urban high nitrate areas had greater mean colon and rectal cancer incidence than urban low nitrate areas (p = 0.0384). Nitrate levels were positively correlated with colon and rectal cancer (r = 0.2258, p = 0.0286). Nitrate levels were not correlated with all cancer type incidence (r = 0.1149, p = 0.2649) and kidney and renal pelvis cancer incidence (r = -0.06596, p = 0.5713).
A differential correlation was observed between nitrate levels in Iowa’s PWSs and cancer incidence, with a weak positive correlation with colon and rectal cancer. To help reduce the incidence of colon and rectal cancer, it is recommended that measures be implemented to lower nitrate levels in both rural and urban areas with high PWS nitrate concentrations.
