1 in 5 Americans exposed to tasteless toxin linked to multiple cancers in tap water

NewsWorldAmericas1 in 5 Americans exposed to tasteless toxin linked to multiple cancers in tap waterNitrates are invisible and odorless, making them hard to detect without extensive testingOwen Scott Thursday 23 April 2026 16:12 BSTBookmarkCommentsGo to commentsBookmark popoverRemoved from bookmarksClose popover{"translations":{"comments":"Go to comments","share":"Share","copyLink":"Copy link","bookmark":"Bookmark","removeBookmark":"Remove bookmark"},"showComments":true,"showBookmark":true,"articleId":"b2963596","articleMeta":{"url":"https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/tap-water-nitrates-cancer-america-b2963596.html","title":"1 in 5 Americans exposed to tasteless toxin linked to multiple cancers in tap water"}}CloseThe Plastic DetoxThe latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekdayYour briefing on the latest headlines from across the USYour briefing on the latest headlines from across the USEmail*SIGN UPI would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice{"className":"sc-1ge0fwe-0","newsletterData":{"regSourceNewsletter":"IND_Evening_Newsletter","regTitle":"Evening Headlines","subscriptionGroup":"us_evening_headlines","subscriptionGroupId":"4326e634-422a-4447-8e1e-604a937cd3b5","type":"daily_news","pathPrefix":["/us","/news/world/americas","/news/world/americas/crime"],"title":"The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday","mobileTitle":"Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US","imageSrc":"https://static.independent.co.uk/static-assets/images/newsletters/usEveningHeadlines1_1.png","label":"I would like to receive morning headlines Monday - Friday plus breaking news alerts by email","newsletterKey":"receiveEveningHeadlinesUSNews","regSourceSection":"Americas","regSourceMethod":"NSCs"},"isClimate":false}Around 1 in 5 Americans may have been exposed to a tasteless compound that is linked to mul...