Public response to elevated nitrate in drinking water wells in Wisconsin.
The authors conducted a survey by mail of Wisconsin families who had their well water tested for nitrate to (a) assess their awareness and compliance with the state's health advisories for nitrate, (b) evaluate their reaction(s) to their test results, and (c) compare demographic differences between exposure levels. Owners of contaminated wells (i.e., > 12.9 mg/l nitrate-nitrogen) were more likely to have lived on a farm, had lower annual incomes, and had older and shallower wells than families whose wells were low in nitrate (i.e., < 2.0 mg/l nitrate-nitrogen). Most respondents were aware of the advisories for pregnant women and infants and, in accordance with these advisories, the majority of families with nitrate-contaminated drinking water took no remedial action. Given that many rural families consume nitrate-contaminated water daily, scientists should conduct additional research to determine whether chronic ingestion of nitrate-contaminated water poses a significant health threat to these families.
Schubert
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Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison 53705-2397, USA.
Knobeloch
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Kanarek
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Anderson
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HA
D000328:Adult; D000383:Agriculture / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001294:Attitude to Health; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009566:Nitrates / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D011247:Pregnancy; D011639:Public Opinion; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014877:Water Pollution, Chemical / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D014881:Water Supply / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014922:Wisconsin
D009566:Nitrates