Iowa, Farming and Cancer: What Do We Really Know?

Iowa has a cancer problem. We are one of the only states in the nation with a growing cancer rate, and have higher levels of certain kinds of cancers than do similar areas of the country.Many have put the blame on Iowa’s fields, while others say that legal pesticides are safe for us and the environment.In this episode we go down the rabbit hole to understand—how do chemicals become products on our shelves? Is a legal chemical safe? And what do researchers know about the relationship between chemicals and cancer?Thanks for listening to At the Iowa Farm Table. Please subscribe to receive our podcasts right to your inbox VoicesAudrey Tran Lam—Environmental Health Program Director, Center for Energy & Environmental Education, University of Northern IowaDavid Cwiertny—Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Director, Center for Health Effects of Environmental Contamination, University of IowaSeth Watkins—Pinhook FarmWeary Ramblers— Kathryn Severing Fox and Chad Elliott ResourcesHigher cancer rates in counties with more CAFOs, study findsU.S. chemical management system must be transformed to prevent harm, argue new policy papersREACH Regulation—European Commission on Energy, Climate change, EnvironmentCancer and Environmental Risk Factors in Iowa—Iowa Environmental CouncilEPA contact in IowaCancer in Iowa—Iowa Cancer RegistryInteractive Iowa Maps—Iowa Cancer RegistryInternational Study Reveals Glyphosate Weed Killers Cause Multiple Types of CancerStay in the LoopStay connected to the latest in Iowa’s food system news. Subscribe to the Iowa Food System Coalition newsletter for timely news, action alerts, and event updates, all focused on supporting local farms and communities.Lyrics to Reduce, Reduce, Reduce! by the Weary RamblersPesticides kill thingsThat’s just what they doThey wouldn’t be good at their jobIf they weren’t bad for youSo we need to spray more sparinglyOnly what we really needListen to Mother NatureShe loves diversityGot a few weeds?That’s alrightA little milkweed and some foxtailTheir just fineIf you’re sprayin’Just to sprayIt does more harm than goodIt costs more at the end of the dayWe gotta’ start doing something…there’s just too much to loseReduce, Reduce, Reduce what we useReduce, Reduce, Reduce what we useDon’t plant your crops on the water’s edgeGive ‘em ‘bout fifty feetOn the edge of every fieldGo ahead and leave the treesDoin’ these two things makes forA Healthier, happy homeFor the plants to grow and for the little critters to roamGot a few weeds?That’s alrightA little waterhemp and thistlesTheir just fineIf you’re sprayin’Just to sprayIt does more harm than goodIt costs more at the end of the dayWe gotta’ start doing something…there’s just too much to loseReduce, Reduce, Reduce what we useReduce, Reduce, Reduce what we use This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href="https://attheiowafarmtable.substack.com