Typically, when people hear about nitrates, it involves runoff from farm fields, sewage systems and cities that can fuel harmful algae blooms and raise the risk of a serious illness in infants known as “blue baby syndrome.”
But a river can also run through a sparsely populated landscape with little farming and still contain surprisingly high levels of this form of nitrogen that can harm aquatic life, drinking water and human health.
kAmx? 2 ?6H DEF5J[ >J 4@==628F6 2?5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^D49@=2C]8@@8=6]4@]F<^4:E2E:@?DnFD6ClsyGA0ctppppyU2>Aj9=lE9Qmxk^2m 7@F?5 2 C62D@? H9J E92E 92AA6?Di sCJ 4=:>2E6 4@?5:E:@?D 2C6 k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^5@:]@C8^`_]``ae^D4:6?46]268abeeQm2DD@4:2E65 H:E9 9:89 C:G6C ?:EC2E6 4@?46?EC2E:@?Dk^2m[ 6G6? :? A=246D H:E9 =:EE=6 72C>:?8 @C FC32? 56G6=@A>6?E]k^Am
kAm(6 7@F?5 k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^5@:]@C8^`_]``ae^D4:6?46]268abeeQm?:EC2E6 9@E DA@EDk^2m :? D@>6 F?6IA64E65 A=246D[ :?4=F5:?8 E96 #@4<J |@F?E2:?D @7 E96 H6DE6C? &?:E65 $E2E6D 2?5 ?@CE96C? p7C:42’D $292C2 s6D6CE] (96C6 H2E6C :D D42C46[ H6 7@F?5 E92E ?:EC2E6D – H9:49 42? ?2EFC2==J k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2C49:G6]454]8@G^HHH02ED5C045408@G^4D6>^?:EC2E6\?:EC:E6^H96C602C6]9E>=Qm=6249 :?E@ DFC7246 H2E6C 2?5 8C@F?5H2E6C 7C@> E96 D@:=k^2m 2D >:4C@36D 3C62< 5@H? @C82?:4 >2E6C:2= – H6C6 23=6 E@ 244F>F=2E6 2?5 364@>6 4@?46?EC2E65 C2E96C E92? 36:?8 5:=FE65 @C 7=FD965 2H2J]k^Am
kAm%92E C2:D6D 962=E9 4@?46C?D 7@C C68:@?D H96C6 ?:EC2E6D :? C:G6CD 2?5 H6== H2E6C >:89E ?@E 36 8:G6? >F49 E9@F89E] xE 2=D@ C2:D6D BF6DE:@?D 23@FE 9@H ?:EC2E6\C6=2E65 962=E9 C:D<D H:== :?4C62D6 2D 8=@32= E6>A6C2EFC6D C:D6]k^Am
kAm%@ D66 9@H H:56DAC625 E9:D A2EE6C? :D[ H6 4@>3:?65 8=@32= >62DFC6>6?ED 7C@> >@C6 E92? f[___ >@?:E@C:?8 D:E6D 2?5 255:E:@?2==J 6IEC24E65 :?7@C>2E:@? 23@FE 4=:>2E6[ D@:=D[ =2?5 FD6 2?5 @E96C =2?5D42A6 762EFC6D] (6 E96? EC2:?65 >249:?6 =62C?:?8 >@56=D E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^5@:]@C8^`_]``ae^D4:6?46]268abeeQm6DE:>2E6 =@?8\E6C> 2G6C286 ?:EC2E6 4@?46?EC2E:@?Dk^2m 24C@DD ?62C=J a]h >:==:@? C:G6C D68>6?ED H@C=5H:56]k^Am
kAm%96 C6DF=E:?8 >2A DF886DED E92E ?:EC2E6D 56D6CG6 2EE6?E:@? H6== 36J@?5 E96 FC32? 2?5 28C:4F=EFC2= C68:@?D H96C6 E96J 2C6 FDF2==J >@?:E@C65]k^Am
k9am(9J :E >2EE6CDk^9am
kAmw:89 ?:EC2E6 6IA@DFC6 :? H2E6C 2?5 7@@5 :D A2CE:4F=2C=J 52?86C@FD 7@C :?72?ED 3642FD6 :E 42? :?E6C76C6 H:E9 E96 3=@@5’D 23:=:EJ E@ 42CCJ @IJ86?] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]59D]H:D4@?D:?]8@G^H2E6C^3=F6\323J\DJ?5C@>6]9E>Qmq=F6 323J DJ?5C@>6k^2m[ @C >6E96>@8=@3:?6>:2[ 42? C6DF=E :? D6C:@FD :==?6DD6D 2?5 36 42FD65 3J ?:EC2E6 A@:D@?:?8]k^Am
kAm%96 &]$] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HB2]@C8^HA\4@?E6?E^FA=@25D^a_aa^_h^a_`c0}:EC2E6}:EC:E6]A57Qm5C:?<:?8 H2E6C DE2?52C5k^2m @7 `_ >:==:8C2>D @7 ?:EC2E6\?:EC@86? A6C =:E6C H2D 6DE23=:D965 AC:>2C:=J E@ 8F2C5 282:?DE E9:D 24FE6 C:D<]k^Am
kAm(6 6DE:>2E6 E92E 23@FE bf[___ A6@A=6 H@C=5H:56 =:G6 :? 2C62D H96C6 C:G6CD 6I4665 E96 `_ >8^{ 5C:?<:?8 H2E6C DE2?52C5[ AC65@>:?2?E=J :? E96 &]$] r@C? q6=E]k^Am
kAm%92E 5@6D?’E >62? bf[___ A6@A=6 2C6 5C:?<:?8 H2E6C 2E E9@D6 4@?46?EC2E:@?D[ D:?46 C:G6C H2E6C :? >2?J C68:@?D :D EC62E65 367@C6 :E :D DFAA=:65 7@C 5C:?<:?8] qFE :E’D 2 4@?46C?:?8 =6G6= E96J D9@F=5 36 2H2C6 @7[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]962=E9]DE2E6]>?]FD^4@>>F?:E:6D^6?G:C@?>6?E^H2E6C^H6==D^H2E6CBF2=:EJ^?:EC2E6]9E>=QmA2CE:4F=2C=J E9@D6 FD:?8 H6== H2E6Ck^2m]k^Am
k7:8FC6mk:>8 2=ElQb H@>6? :? 2 72C>9@FD6 <:E496?Q DC4lQ9EEADi^^:>286D]E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^7:=6D^ff`f_e^@C:8:?2=^7:=6\a_ae```a\ec\=HC<d_];A8n:I=:3lC3\c]`]`U2>AjBlcdU2>Aj2FE@l7@C>2EU2>Aj7:El4=:AU2>AjHlfc_Q ^mk7:842AE:@?m#FC2= H6== H2E6C 42? 42CCJ >@C6 ?:EC2E6D E92? C6D:56?ED C62=:K6] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]86EEJ:>286D]4@>^56E2:=^A9@E@^E9C66\H@>6?\=2F89:?8\2?5\492EE:?8\E@86E96C\:?\2\C@J2=EJ\7C66\:>286^aaga_bfehaQmrFC=J A9@E@^|@>6?E G:2 v6EEJ x>286D G:2 %96 r@?G6CD2E:@?k^2mk^7:842AE:@?mk^7:8FC6m
kAm#6D62C49 92D 2=D@ C2:D65 4@?46C?D 23@FE A@DD:3=6 67764ED @7 =@?8\E6C> 6IA@DFC6 E@ ?:EC2E6 2E =@H6C 4@?46?EC2E:@?D[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]`_`e^;]AF96]a_ac]_`]__`Qm:?4=F5:?8 46CE2:? 42?46CDk^2m 2?5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]`_`e^;];66>]a_ad]`_b`hfQm25G6CD6 3:CE9 @FE4@>6Dk^2m[ DF49 2D 323:6D 3@C? AC6E6C> @C H:E9 2 =@H 3:CE9 H6:89E[ 2=E9@F89 E9@D6 C:D<D 2C6 DE:== 36:?8 DEF5:65]k^Am
kAm(6 6DE:>2E6 E92E 23@FE cg_ >:==:@? A6@A=6 H@C=5H:56 =:G6 :? 2C62D H96C6 ?62C3J C:G6CD 92G6 6=6G2E65 =@?8\E6C> 2G6C286 ?:EC2E6 4@?46?EC2E:@?D[ 23@G6 a]d >:==:8C2>D A6C =:E6C]k^Am
kAm|2?J @7 E96 C:G6CD @FC >@56=D :56?E:7:65 2D 92G:?8 6=6G2E65 ?:EC2E6 =6G6=D 2C6 D>2== 9625H2E6C DEC62>D] |2?J 9625H2E6C DEC62>D 462D6 E@ 7=@H 7@C D@>6 A6C:@5D @7 E:>6 6G6CJ J62C[ 2?5 ?:EC2E6D 42? 244F>F=2E6 E@ 9:89 4@?46?EC2E:@?D F?56C 5CJ @C =@H\7=@H 4@?5:E:@?D] %96D6 D>2== DEC62>D >2<6 FA k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]`_bg^Dccaa`\_ad\__dch\IQm>@DE @7 E96 8=@32= C:G6C ?6EH@C<Dk^2m[ 92G6 =@?8 366? @G6C=@@<65 2?5 7665 =2C86C C:G6CD E92E DFAA=J 5C:?<:?8 H2E6C E@ =2C86 A@AF=2E:@?D 2?5 96=A D92A6 E96 BF2=:EJ @7 H2E6C 5@H?DEC62>]k^Am
kAm%@@ >F49 ?:EC2E6 :? C:G6CD 2?5 =2<6D 42? 2=D@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^E@I:4\2=826\3=@@>D\2C6\=2DE:?8\=@?86C\:?\=2<6\6C:6\H9J\E92ED\2\H@CCJ\7@C\A6@A=6\2?5\A6ED\adhhdcQm7F6= 2=82= 8C@HE9k^2m 2?5 5:DCFAE 2BF2E:4 64@DJDE6>D]k^Am
k9am(92E H6 DE:== 5@?’E <?@Hk^9am
kAmp 8=@32= >2A @7 ?:EC2E6 4@?46?EC2E:@?D :? C:G6C H2E6C 42??@E D9@H H92E 4@>6D @FE @7 D@>6@?6’D E2A] %96:C H2E6C >2J 36 >:I65 H:E9 @E96C D@FC46D @C k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]454]8@G^5C:?<:?8\H2E6C^23@FE^9@H\H2E6C\EC62E>6?E\H@C<D]9E>=QmEC62E65 367@C6 E96J 5C:?< :Ek^2m] }:EC2E6 4@?46?EC2E:@?D 42? 2=D@ C:D6 2?5 72== @G6C E:>6[ H9:=6 @FC >2A D9@HD =@?8\E6C> 2G6C286D]k^Am
kAm%@ F?56CDE2?5 2 A6CD@?’D 24EF2= 6IA@DFC6 H:== C6BF:C6 4@??64E:?8 C:G6C >62DFC6>6?ED H:E9 5C:?<:?8 H2E6C D@FC46D[ EC62E>6?E AC24E:46D 2?5 E6DED @7 H2E6C 56=:G6C65 E@ 9@FD69@=5D]k^Am
kAm|2?J C:G6CD H:E9 ?:EC2E6 4@?46?EC2E:@?D 23@G6 a]d >:==:8C2>D A6C =:E6C 7=@H E9C@F89 DA2CD6=J A@AF=2E65 C68:@?D H96C6 2446DD E@ EC62E65 5C:?<:?8 H2E6C >2J 36 =:>:E65] tG6? H96C6 EC62E>6?E 724:=:E:6D 6I:DE[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]`__f^hfg\b\eca\fe_c_\a0aeQm4@?G6?E:@?2= >6E9@5D C6>@G6 =:EE=6 ?:EC2E6k^2m] #6>@G:?8 :E C6BF:C6D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^6IE6?D:@?]ADF]65F^?:EC2E6D\:?\5C:?<:?8\H2E6CQmDA64:2=:K65 E649?@=@8:6Dk^2m E92E 42? 36 4@DE=J E@ @A6C2E6]k^Am
k9am(92E 4@>6D ?6IEk^9am
kAm~FC DEF5J D9@HD H9J >@C6 5CJ=2?5D 2?5 D>2== 9625H2E6C DEC62>D ?665 E@ 36 >@?:E@C65 7@C ?:EC2E6] xE 2=D@ C2:D6D 2 BF6DE:@? 7@C 2 H2C>:?8 H@C=5i x7 2 C68:@? 364@>6D 5C:6C[ 9@H >F49 H:== ?:EC2E6 4@?46?EC2E:@?D C:D6 6G6? :7 A6@A=6 5@ ?@E 255 >@C6 ?:EC@86? E@ E96 =2?5D42A6nk^Am
kAmp?DH6C:?8 E92E H:== C6BF:C6 >62DFC6>6?ED E9C@F89 H6E 2?5 5CJ A6C:@5D[ A2:C65 H:E9 DEF5:6D @7 9@H H2E6C >@G6D E9C@F89 D@:=D[ 8C@F?5H2E6C 2?5 C:G6CD] u@C ?@H[ E96 >6DD286 :D 4=62Ci !C@E64E:?8 H2E6C BF2=:EJ C6BF:C6D A2J:?8 2EE6?E:@? E@ E96 4=:>2E6 2D H6== 2D E@ E96 9F>2? 24E:G:E:6D E92E AFE ?:EC@86? :?E@ E96 6?G:C@?>6?E]k^Am
kAmk6>m%9:D 2CE:4=6 :D C6AF3=:D965 7C@> k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^FDnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<\_U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\ahcddgQm%96 r@?G6CD2E:@?k^2m[ 2 ?@?AC@7:E[ :?56A6?56?E ?6HD @C82?:K2E:@? 3C:?8:?8 J@F 724ED 2?5 ECFDEH@CE9J 2?2=JD:D E@ 96=A J@F >2<6 D6?D6 @7 @FC 4@>A=6I H@C=5] xE H2D HC:EE6? 3Ji kDA2?mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^AC@7:=6D^=:\=:\`cf_`gbnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?l3J=:?6\=:?<U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\ahcddgQm{: {: W李黎Xk^2m[ k6>mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^:?DE:EFE:@?D^A6??\DE2E6\`adgnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?l3J=:?6\=:?<U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\ahcddgQm!6?? $E2E6k^2mk^6>mk^DA2?mk^6>mk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m#625 >@C6ik^DEC@?8mk^Am
kF=mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^>:==:@?D\@7\A6@A=6\24C@DD\E96\FD\FD6\H6==\H2E6C\3FE\G6CJ\76H\E6DE\:E\@7E6?\6?@F89\E@\>2<6\DFC6\:ED\D276\abehb_nFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<_U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\ahcddgQm|:==:@?D @7 A6@A=6 24C@DD E96 &$ FD6 H6== H2E6C[ 3FE G6CJ 76H E6DE :E @7E6? 6?@F89 E@ >2<6 DFC6 :E’D D276k^2mk^=:mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^E@I:4\2=826\3=@@>D\2C6\=2DE:?8\=@?86C\:?\=2<6\6C:6\H9J\E92ED\2\H@CCJ\7@C\A6@A=6\2?5\A6ED\adhhdcnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<`U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\ahcddgQm%@I:4 2=826 3=@@>D 2C6 =2DE:?8 =@?86C :? {2<6 tC:6 − H9J E92E’D 2 H@CCJ 7@C A6@A=6 2?5 A6EDk^2mk^=:mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^b__\8=24:6CD\92G6\5:D2AA62C65\7C@>\E96\2>6C:42?\H6DE\D:?46\E96\>:5\a_E9\46?EFCJ\E96\DFCG:G@CD\92G6\2\76H\E9:?8D\:?\4@>>@?\ahc_gcnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<aU2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\ahcddgQmb__ 8=24:6CD 92G6 5:D2AA62C65 7C@> E96 p>6C:42? (6DE D:?46 E96 >:5‑a_E9 46?EFCJ – E96 DFCG:G@CD 92G6 2 76H E9:?8D :? 4@>>@?k^2mk^=:mk^F=m
kA 4=2DDlQ7:?6\AC:?EQmk6>mkDA2?m{: {: W李黎X 5@6D ?@E H@C< 7@C[ 4@?DF=E[ @H? D92C6D :? @C C646:G6 7F?5:?8 7C@> 2?J 4@>A2?J @C @C82?:K2E:@? E92E H@F=5 36?67:E 7C@> E9:D 2CE:4=6[ 2?5 92D 5:D4=@D65 ?@ C6=6G2?E 277:=:2E:@?D 36J@?5 E96:C 24256>:4 2AA@:?E>6?E]k^DA2?mk^6>mk^Am
kAmk:>8 DC4lQ9EEADi^^4@F?E6C]E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^4@?E6?E^ahcddg^4@F?E]8:7n5:DEC:3FE@Cl=66Q DEJ=6lQ96:89Ei`AIjH:5E9i`AIjQ 2=ElQQ ^mk^Am
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.