Cancer isn’t spreading from host to host via a medium like bacteria or viruses do. Something is carcinogenic or can cause cancer. But it isn’t spreading. The mechanism is already in the body - cell division. Carcinogenic factors increase the chance, that something goes wrong during the process. And the resulting cells failing to kill themselves. Or the immune system failing to kill them.
Although… Some say certain infections could lead to cancer. But nitrates are not microbes.
Q: …
A: use a test kit. Or send a sample to a lab to be sure.HPV is one that can lead to cancer.
When the water tastes like cancer spreading nitrates, that’s a usually a bad sign.
Aquarium test kit
This really is the best answer if you want to test frequently with quick results. Aquarium test strips usually use ppm, and the number you’re looking for is less than 3 ppm, but 20 ppm is considered acceptable. There are many test kits that will show for less than 10 ppm and 10 to 25 ppm. If you’re in the first range, you’re pretty much okay.
It also isn’t a bad idea to send your water for regional testing, too, so they have another endpoint in their system for testing (or if you’re on your own well so you know if it’s safe).
By sending test samples to a lab on a regular basis. The results are on the web page of your county/water supplier. Depends on the country you’re from I guess, but that should be your first place to check.
yeah this is only practical option, the analysis isn’t that expensive, but equipment to run it is. but also people who have their own water wells have to submit their own samples
If you have a college near by, their ag department might do testing for cheap.
I look for signs of water cancer. When my tap water starts getting cancer I know it’s time to break out the old Britta.
Britta is the AT&T of people
What if your water has chemotherapy drugs in it too?
One thing to consider is that nitrate levels may not be consistent, especially for small municipalities.
After 2 notices stuck in the door that “nitrate levels were high a couple of days ago, but are fine now” we bought a reverse osmosis filtration system that will remove nitrates and many other things for water for cooking and drinking.