Do you know what’s in your tap water?

Earlier this week I told you about the meteoric rise in colorectal cancer rates starting with people born in the middle of the 20th century. And I pointed out that the 1950s is right when widespread pesticide use began. No one knows for certain if pesticides are behind rising colorectal cancer rates in younger people, but they’re certainly reason for concern. Studies have linked them with a number of health concerns, ranging from headaches and nausea to cancer and endocrine disruption.

In light of that, a new study published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology Letters is seriously alarming. The study, conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey and the University of Iowa, found that neonicotinoids — a class of pesticide commonly used in conventional corn and soy farming to kill off insects — is making its way into drinking water.

The researchers took samples from almost 50 streams that feed the Iowa River, which is a major source of drinking water throughout the Midwest. And they found that 63 percent of those samples contained neonicotinoids.

That’s troubling in its own right, but the truly disturbing fact is that samples taken from local tap water also showed these pesticides. Which means that these pesticides aren’t getting filtered out of the drinking supply.

I’d say that’s a major cause for concern, considering a study published last year by the National Institutes of Health linked nicotinoids to autism, memory problems, and other chronic health and developmental issues.

So what can you do to protect yourself? First, look into a good water filtration system for your home.

Second, buy organic produce whenever possible (especially for anything on the Environmental Working Group’s Dirty Dozen list.)

And finally, consider a quarterly detox to help your body protect itself against the constant toxic soup we’re all exposed to every day. For my simple, step-by-step detox protocol, refer back to the September 2013 issue of my monthly Logical Health Alternatives newsletter. Subscribers can download and view this issue for free by logging in to the “Subscriber” area of www.drpescatore.com with your username and password. (And if you’re not already a subscriber, now is the perfect time to get started .)

 

Sources:

http://www.ecowatch.com/pesticide-found-drinking-water-2347446933.html

https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/wp-content/uploads/advpub/2016/7/EHP515.acco.pdf


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