Iowa's High Cancer Rate

At the end of March, the Iowa Environmental Council and the Harkin Institute for Public Policy released a report on environmental risk factors and Iowa’s Cancer crisis. 

The report stated that the nation-leading pesticide use, high nitrate and forever chemical levels in Iowa waters and elevated radon exposure are among the environmental factors linked to Iowa’s  rising cancer rates.  Some readers may remember attending the listening session that was held at the Emmetsburg library last year.  Those who attended were given a paper to fill out regarding their views on cancer based on any interactions they had with family members, friends or others who had experienced cancer. Release of the information acknowledged that for decades the risk factors of smoking, diet, alcohol consumption, obesity, the lack of physical activity were the contributing factors to Iowa’s cancer rates.  Richard Deming, a Des Moines oncologist stated that these factors still matter but do not fully explain Iowa cancer rates.

Iowa has the second-highest rate of new cancers nationally and is one of only three states with rising new cancer rates.  The rate of new cancers among young adults in the state, those from 20-39 year-olds – ranks second highest nationally, the report says. 

“These numbers not only demand our attention they demand an explanation, and they demand action, “Deming said.

The report  emphasized that “If you live in Iowa, your risk of being diagnosed with cancer is meaningfully higher.”  Iowans are expected to be diagnosed with 21,700 new, invasive cancers this year, with 6,400 residents expected to die the report said.  The number of cancer survivors in Iowa is expected to grow to 175,290. 

Iowa is a top producer of corn, soybeans, pork, eggs, turkey, beef and milk.  Iowa ranks fourth nationally for the amount, of pesticides it used between 2015 and 2019, trailing behind California, Florida and Illinois.  Nitrate concentrations in Iowa are now among the highest in the country.  The Des Moines and Raccoon rivers rank in the top 1% of rivers nationwide for nitrate  concentration with 80% of this contamination originating from agricultural sources.

The report recommends the following changes.  Increase access to free and low-cost radon testing for Iowans and provide financial assistance to help pay for radon mitigation.  The program that Palo Alto County has regarding radon mitigation has been in effect for two years. Radon kits can be picked up at the Palo Alto County Hospital or Public Health at no cost. 

Another change suggested in the report was Funding the Iowa Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund that voters approved in 2010 to support water quality conservation, trails and parks.  The third suggestion is to support an EPA human health risk assessment of the federal drinking water standard to determine if the limit should be lowered.   In the absence of federal action, states should adopt a more protective nitrate standard that fully accounts for both acute and chronic health risks.

The Iowa legislature still has an opportunity through the appropriations process to achieve one of the most basic and critical water quality protections: Restore funding to the Iowa Water Quality Information System operated by IIHR-Hydroscience and Engineering at the University of Iowa. In 2023 the legislature removed this funding, and as a result, the public stands to lose access to water quality data from 60 real-time water quality sensors statewide after June 2026. There is no other publicly available monitoring network in the state that provides water quality data at the same scale and level of detail as the Iowa Water Quality Information System.