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 Voices Audrey Tran Lam—Environmental Health Program Director, Center for Energy & Environmental Education, University of Northern Iowa David Cwiertny—Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Director, Center for Health Effects of Environmental Contamination, University of Iowa Seth Watkins—Pinhook Farm Weary Ramblers— Kathryn Severing Fox and Chad Elliott Resources Higher cancer rates in counties with more CAFOs, study finds U.S. chemical management system must be transformed to prevent harm, argue new policy papers REACH Regulation—European Commission on Energy, Climate change, Environment Cancer and Environmental Risk Factors in Iowa—Iowa Environmental Council EPA contact in Iowa Cancer in Iowa—Iowa Cancer Registry Interactive Iowa Maps—Iowa Cancer Registry International Study Reveals Glyphosate Weed Killers Cause Multiple Types of Cancer Stay in the Loop Stay 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 Ramblers Pesticides kill things That’s just what they do They wouldn’t be good at their job If they weren’t bad for you So we need to spray more sparingly Only what we really need Listen to Mother Nature She loves diversity Got a few weeds? That’s alright A little milkweed and some foxtail Their just fine If you’re sprayin’ Just to spray It does more harm than good It costs more at the end of the day We gotta’ start doing something…there’s just too much to lose Reduce, Reduce, Reduce what we use Reduce, Reduce, Reduce what we use Don’t plant your crops on the water’s edge Give ‘em ‘bout fifty feet On the edge of every field Go ahead and leave the trees Doin’ these two things makes for A Healthier, happy home For the plants to grow and for the little critters to roam Got a few weeds? That’s alright A little waterhemp and thistles Their just fine If you’re sprayin’ Just to spray It does more harm than good It costs more at the end of the day We gotta’ start doing something…there’s just too much to lose Reduce, Reduce, Reduce what we use Reduce, 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 attheiowafarmtable.substack.com
