One in five residents in California’s Central Valley live in poverty according to the Public Policy Institute. There are approximately 4.2 million people in the Central Valley, and it remains one of the poorest areas in California. Over half of these residents are of non-white ethnicities including those of Hispanic/Latino, Black/African, and Asian descent. One-fourth of the United States’ food production comes from agriculture in the Central Valley through their acres of farms and crops. This concentration of agriculture contaminates surface and groundwater used for drinking with fertilizers and pesticides. Of particular concern are nitrates from the fertilizers which has been linked to methemoglobinemia and, recently, thyroid cancer. From the Global Health Data Exchange (GHDx) data, there are high incidents of thyroid cancer in the Central Valley compared to the National and State averages.  From geographic and statistical analysis of agriculture, water, nitrate, health, and socio-economic data, there is clear overlap between disadvantaged communities and health disparities. These maps and analysis will help inform the public and policy leaders of the types of health-related concerns in relation to water pollution in the Central Valley.<br/><br/>

Water, health, and environmental justice in the central valley of California: Geospatial analysis of nitrate contamination and health disparities

2019 Fall National Meeting

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