New Zealand study links drinking water nitrates to 120 premature births yearly

New Zealand's drinking water may be linked to approximately 120 premature births each year, according to a new national study. Researchers found a significant association between nitrate contamination, largely from the farming industry, and premature births, even at levels well below the country's legal limit.

The study, conducted by researchers from Canterbury, Otago, and Massey universities, analyzed over 735,000 births between 2008 and 2021. It revealed that the risk of premature birth increased with higher nitrate concentrations. This issue is particularly sensitive in New Zealand, where agriculture is a cornerstone of the economy, with the dairy sector alone projected to generate a record NZ$28.6 billion in revenue for the year ending June 2026.

Nitrate pollution primarily stems from fertilizer use and livestock manure runoff. Environmental group Greenpeace has called for accountability from dairy companies like Fonterra, stating, "We need to stop nitrate pollution at the source. That means regulating the intensive dairy industry, and limiting the amount of synthetic nitrogen fertiliser that can be applied to the land." DairyNZ, representing the industry, deferred comment to health and regulatory agencies responsible for assessing scientific evidence, while New Zealand's Ministry of Primary Industries did not immediately respond.

The study, set to be published in Environmental Research, explored associations across various categories of premature births and prenatal nitrate exposure. When assuming a causal relationship, the research indicated that nitrate exposure could be responsible for 120 premature births annually, representing 4 percent of pregnancies ending between 20 and 37 weeks.

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We need to stop nitrate pollution at the source. That means regulating the intensive dairy industry, and limiting the amount of synthetic nitrogen fertiliser that can be applied to the land.