This page was created by Gwen Connor.
The Detrimental Effects of the Water
There has been a lot of research on how this contamination can affect us. One study found that higher levels of arsenic in drinking water can lead to an increased risk of developing cancer. In addition, arsenic was found in 60 percent of the valley’s water and can produce blindness and partial paralysis in those exposed. The pesticides used in California have also been linked to increased chances of childhood cancers. About 170,000 children are living in the danger zone and therefore are at higher risk. Nitrates have been found in 61 percent of the valley’s drinking water and impacted over 275,000 people. Some health issues that have been potentially linked to nitrates include indigestion, depression, weakness, miscarriage, cancer, nervous system disabilities, Crohn’s disease, and more. A different study looked at dairy farms, nitrates in drinking water, and low birth weight and found a correlation between all three of them. This means that the farming nature of the valley has led to contaminated water, which has lead to health disadvantages. The effects of these contaminants have been proven to be very harmful to the community, deteriorating people’s bodies over time.