Farmers should stop and think about nitrate levels
The concerns expressed by scientists and The Southland Times about the association between elevated levels of nitrate in drinking water and the incidence of colorectal cancers (CRC) contrast with the concerns of farmers who recently met to resist changes proposed by the Government to reduce the adverse effects of winter grazing and intensive dairy farming in general.
Leaders of the protesting farmers threatened ‘‘civil unrest’’ at some of the new rules.
The Danish study (Schullehner, J., et. al. 2018 – Nitrate in drinking water and colorectal cancer risk: A nationwide population-based cohort study) that has motivated the concerns of public health professionals here ‘‘showed a statistically significant positive association between nitrate in drinking water and CRC at levels well below the current drinking water standard.’’
Jayne Richards studied drinking water supplies in Southland as part of her 2020 Master of Science Thesis at Longborough University in the UK.
This very thorough study, based on detailed water sampling in New Zealand, particularly in Southland, revealed that many drinking water supplies here are contaminated with nitrate at levels that are considered to increase the risk of the development of colorectal cancers.
In 2019, Professor Michael Baker, who we trust so much with respect to Covid-19, warned that higher nitrate levels could be a cause of this cancer and ‘‘that it should be a matter of priority to know more about nitrate levels in our drinking water to determine how many cases could be attributed to its effects.’’
Others, such as Dr Mike Joy and Dr Tim Chambers of Victoria and Otago universities respectively, also call for greater controls on nitrate contamination freshwaters which provide most of us with our drinking water.
Some farmers’ advocates, such as Dr Jacqueline Rowarth and Federated Farmers spokespersons, play down the need to be so concerned.
Farmers’ protests are buoyed by these apparently well qualified people, but the weight of scientific evidence should be absorbed by the protesting farmers. The risks to the health of the community should be sufficient motivation to make changes that we all need. Maurice Rodway Invercargill
Covid tracing concern
Not everyone has a smartphone and the current method of signing in for those without one has me concerned.
Our contact details are then clearly visible to all who come after us.
I feel much more secure when signing in to our local library due to the method they use – separate slips of paper put into a secure box.
I have noticed more scam calls now signing in is requested. Sheila Codd Invercargill