Nitrates in water and thyroid function. There are several papers suggesting that nitrate pollution of well water may affect thyroid function. This is the biggest effect I have seen. I do not have access to the full paper but the potential implications are depressing.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17447577
Arch Environ Occup Health. 2005 Nov-Dec;60(6):317-9.
Iodine status of children living in areas with high nitrate levels in water.
Gatseva PD1, Argirova MD.
Author information
Abstract
Several researchers have suggested a possible relationship between nitrate intake and the development of goiter in children.
The present cross-sectional study included schoolchildren between the ages of 11 and 14 years from 2 villages in Bulgaria with high and low nitrate levels in drinking water. The comparison between the median urinary iodine levels of the total number of exposed (179.0 microg/l) and nonexposed (202.50 microg/l) children showed statistically significant differences.
The relative risk for the children exposed to high nitrate levels in drinking water, expressed as the odds ratio, was 8.145 (95% confidence interval = 1.67-39.67). The authors considered this to be very significant. They found a statistically significant difference for the prevalence of goiter among the exposed and nonexposed children.
The results of the study confirmed the role of high nitrate levels in drinking water as a health risk factor for thyroid dysfunction.