Latest news with #IowaEnvironmentalCouncil
Yahoo
02-08-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Researchers embark on quest to find cause of cancer crisis plaguing US region: 'It's scary'
Researchers embark on quest to find cause of cancer crisis plaguing US region: 'It's scary' Iowa cancer rates are the second-highest in the nation and rising, and some think it could have to do with common agricultural chemicals. What's happening? "People in rural communities are getting sick. Cancer is just everywhere," Kerri Johannsen, senior director of policy at the Iowa Environmental Council, told the Guardian, which reported on this health crisis. "Every person I talk to knows somebody that has [recently] had a cancer diagnosis. It's just a constant drumbeat. It's scary." The Guardian added that Iowa is just one of two states where cancer rates are increasing, but the cause has been unclear. However, many residents are blaming herbicides, pesticides, and other chemicals used on farms. Then there is the state's problem with hazardous nitrates — often coming from agricultural fertilizers and manure from large-scale livestock operations — that wash off farm fields and enter the water supply. Now, a new study will look into these theories as well as cancer links to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and high radon levels, the Guardian reported. "We really want to find out why these cancers are increasing," Elise Pohl, a former community health consultant for the Iowa Department of Health who will be the study's lead researcher, told the Guardian. "We're homing in on the agriculture side of things." Why is this study important? Agriculture is integral to Iowa's economy, contributing $159.5 billion to the state each year, according to the Iowa Farm Bureau. And around one in five Iowa residents are employed in agriculture or by agriculture-related businesses, the organization added. Meanwhile, a number of studies have found links between common agricultural chemicals and cancer. For instance, one recent investigation by Stanford University found that more than 20 types of pesticides may significantly increase the risk of prostate cancer. These pesticides also endanger wildlife. One conservation group states that malathion endangers more than 1,500 species and recently brought a lawsuit against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for its alleged failure to rein in use of the substance. This problem is global in scope — one study estimated that 3.85 million tons of pesticides were used on crops worldwide in 2020. What's being done about potentially dangerous agricultural chemicals? Farm Bureau Financial Services recommends that farmers wear personal protective equipment such as gloves, safety glasses and shoes, earplugs or muffs, hard hats, respirators, coveralls, vests, and full body suits when handling potentially dangerous chemicals. Do you worry about having toxic forever chemicals in your home? Majorly Sometimes Not really I don't know enough about them Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. However, some farmers are implementing more planet-friendly practices that reduce their need for conventional pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers in the first place. Organic agriculture involves growing and processing food without using synthetic fertilizers or pesticides, and a number of studies have shown promise for organic fertilizers. For instance, one study found that using microbial biofertilizers and algae-based biostimulants instead of synthetic fertilizers on tomato crops improved both yield and quality. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
IEC to hold series of listening sessions on cancer and the environment
A project between the Harkin Institute and the Iowa Environmental Council will explore the relationship between the environment and cancer rates in Iowa. (Photo by Cami Koons/Iowa Capital Dispatch) Iowa Environmental Council, as part of an initiative with the Harkin Institute at Drake University, will hold 16 listening sessions across the state to hear Iowans' lived experiences with cancer. IEC announced the partnership in April to explore the relationship between cancer and the environment with a review of research and community outreach. 'We know that our environment and our health are inextricably linked,' Sarah Green, executive director of the Iowa Environmental Council, said in a statement. 'With so many Iowans' lives touched by cancer, it's important that we explore every link and find ways we can work together to mitigate all potential sources of risk and save lives.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The council points to a growing need to understand other potential risk factors driving Iowa's cancer rates. The latest Cancer in Iowa report from the Iowa Cancer Registry shows Iowa has the second highest, age-adjusted rate of cancers in the country, and is one of only two states with rising rates of new cancers. The series of listening sessions kicks off with an event in Indianola Wednesday at 5:30 p.m., followed by sessions in Des Moines, Burlington, Davenport and Solon which are free to attend, though online registration is requested. The sessions will have a presentation with county-specific health data and then allow attendees space to share how cancer has impacted their lives. IEC has also announced dates and locations for listening sessions in July and August in : Albia, Elkader, Decorah, Council Bluffs, Red Oak, Emmetsburg, Sioux City, Carroll, Waterloo, Tama and a virtual session. These sessions are not yet open for registration. Iowans who can't make it to one of the sessions can also share their stories virtually through a form on IEC's website. The Cancer and Environmental Risk Factors in Iowa initiative will result in a report and statewide campaign, with a goal of bringing Iowans 'together around policies that will reduce environmental contamination as a factor in cancers in Iowa.' Registration and more information can be found at the Iowa Environmental Council website. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Major utility company hit with lawsuit over decades of toxic dumping in state waterways: 'We are concerned'
A major utility in Iowa is facing legal trouble after allegedly discharging toxic groundwater into waterways without the proper permit. Environmental groups say the discharge contains heavy metals like arsenic, cobalt, lithium, and manganese — pollutants that can harm ecosystems and pose serious health risks. At the center of the issue is the Ottumwa Midland coal ash landfill, operated since the mid-1990s by Interstate Power and Light, a subsidiary of Alliant Energy. According to Iowa Capital Dispatch, the Iowa Environmental Council, the Sierra Club, and the Environmental Law & Policy Center sent a formal notice of intent to sue, claiming IPL is violating the Clean Water Act, which requires a permit for discharges into U.S. waters. The discharge comes from underdrain piping beneath the landfill. The system is designed to keep groundwater separate from coal ash and other waste. However, monitoring data suggests the water is actually polluted. In 2023, Iowa's Department of Natural Resources told IPL that its existing stormwater permit didn't apply to this discharge, since it wasn't "uncontaminated groundwater." But IPL never applied for a new permit. "It's that ongoing delay that we are concerned about," said Michael Schmidt, an attorney for the Iowa Environmental Council. "We have these discharges of arsenic and other metals going into the water on a continuous basis without really any oversight." Coal ash — the byproduct of burning coal for energy — is one of the largest sources of industrial waste in the U.S. It contains harmful pollutants that can seep into drinking water, damage ecosystems, and cause health problems for people exposed to it. Alliant Energy said it's working with state officials on a solution and maintains that the system was designed to prevent contact with the landfill's contents. But advocates say the company has had more than enough time — and it's still discharging up to 84,000 gallons of contaminated water a day without proper authorization. IPL has 60 days to respond or come into compliance before the case moves to court. If it does, the utility could face over $12 million in fines. "It's another example of why the process that we have of burning coal to put pollutants into the air — and create the solid waste and have these water discharges — is a continuing problem," said Schmidt. "The more we do it, the more problems like this we create." As the U.S. transitions away from dirty energy sources like coal, advocates are calling for stricter enforcement and better protections for communities and waterways. Going green is a massive, but crucial, undertaking — but holding big polluters accountable is an important part of it. Individuals can help at home by exploring ways to switch to clean electricity, such as installing solar panels or signing up for community solar projects. Do you think your city has good air quality? Definitely Somewhat Depends on the time of year Not at all Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
