·
Do nitrates in water cause cancer?
Increased nitrate in water supplies has been linked to colon, ovarian, thyroid, kidney and bladder cancers with the strongest association with colon cancer resulting in an estimated 6,500 cases of nitrate-attributable cancers.
Can nitrates increase risk of cancer?
High nitrate intake may be associated with a decreased risk of gastric cancer, whereas nitrite intake may increase the risk of glioma and thyroid and gastric cancers. At this time, no studies have shown a consistent association between high intakes of nitrate or nitrite and other types of cancers.
Are nitrites carcinogenic?
Meat processing such as curing (e.g. by adding nitrates or nitrites) or smoking can lead to the formation of potentially cancer-causing (carcinogenic) chemicals such as N-nitroso-compounds (NOC) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH).
Is high nitrates in water bad?
Nitrate is a compound that is formed naturally when nitrogen combines with oxygen or ozone. Nitrogen is essential for all living things, but high levels of nitrate in drinking water can be dangerous to health, especially for infants and pregnant women.
What foods are highest in nitrates?
Vegetables particularly rich in nitrates include green leafy vegetables such as spinach and lettuce as well as fennel, rocket, radishes, Chinese cabbage, and parsley [3, 5, 6].
What do nitrates have to do with colon cancer?
Nitrate in drinking water, even at low levels, correlated with an increased risk for colorectal cancer in a new study. Those with the highest exposure levels showed a significantly increased risk for CRC vs. those with the lowest exposure levels (HR = 1.16; 95% CI, 1.08-1.25).
What is the number one carcinogen?
The World Health Organization has classified processed meats including ham, bacon, salami and frankfurts as a Group 1 carcinogen (known to cause cancer) which means that there’s strong evidence that processed meats cause cancer.
Why should you avoid nitrates?
Sodium nitrate, a preservative that’s used in some processed meats, such as bacon, jerky and luncheon meats, could increase your heart disease risk. It’s thought that sodium nitrate may damage your blood vessels, making your arteries more likely to harden and narrow, leading to heart disease.
What is bad about nitrates in food?
Manufacturers add nitrates and nitrites to foods such as cured sandwich meats, bacon, salami or sausages to give them color and to prolong their shelf life. When added to processed foods in this way, both nitrates and nitrites can form nitrosamines in the body, which can increase your risk of developing cancer.