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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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farm field

Pesticides, fertilizers, animal waste and other substances flow off farm fields and end up in our drinking water. Drinking water contaminated with these chemicals increases the risk of cancer and birth defects.

tw-infrographic-2019_C03Here’s what goes on farm fields every year:8 million Sheep& Goats72 millionPigs104 million Turkeys94 million Cows2.1 billion Chickens46 billionpoundsAtrazine, a weed killer banned in Europe but still widely used on U.S. farms, seeps into streams, rivers and groundwater, and eventually ends up in drinking water. It’s a hormone disruptor and increases the risk of getting some types of cancer. To learn more about atrazine click here.Why does this matter?Water polluted with manure and fertilizer contains nitrate, a chemical that increases the risk of bladder cancer and developmental defects in children born to mothers who drink contaminated water during pregnancy. To learn more about these contaminants, click here.899 millionpoundsHere are just a few ways that all this can end up contaminating drinking water. Follow the prompts below to see simple solutions that help protect water supplies.Manure and fertilizer runoff in lakes and rivers feeds algae blooms, which can be toxic. Ingestion of—or even exposure to—toxic algae blooms can cause health problems from diarrhea to cancer in humans, and the ozutbreaks can sicken or even kill pets and wildlife. Check out ewg.org/toxicalgae for more. tw-summation-mobile_C03 atrazine-cardWhy does this matter?Atrazine - a weed killer banned in Europe, but still widely used on U.S. farms - seeps into streams, rivers and groundwater, and eventually ends up in drinking water. It’s a hormone disruptor and increases the risk of getting some types of cancer. To learn more about atrazine, click here.Close manure-cardWhy does this matter?Manure and fertilizer drain into lakes and streams, and lead to explosive blooms of algae. The chemicals utilities use to disinfect water react with algae, plant and animal waste to form carcinogenic byproducts that end up in our tap water. To learn more about disinfection byproducts, click here.Close nitrate-cardWhy does this matter?Water polluted with manure and fertilizer contains Nitrate, a chemical that increases the risk of bladder cancer and developmental defects in children born to mothers who drink contaminated water during pregnancy. To learn more about this contaminant, click here.Close

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