The mysterious rise of cancer among young adults in the Corn Belt

illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on The Washington Post or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: Young adults in Iowa and across the Corn Belt are experiencing a sharp and unexplained rise in cancer rates, even as overall cancer prevalence in the U.S. declines
•  A Washington Post investigation reveals that since 2015, cancer rates among individuals aged 15 to 49 in top corn-producing states are now 5% higher than the national average
•  In Winterset, Iowa, five former students from a high school of just 500 have been diagnosed with advanced cancers in two years — prompting urgent local activism and political action

🔭 The context: Since 1999, cancer rates for adults over 50 have dropped nationally, but rates among younger adults have climbed. In Iowa, the increase has been particularly steep
•  The University of Iowa and CDC point to environmental exposure — including high nitrate levels in groundwater, elevated natural radon levels, and widespread use of agrochemicals such as glyphosate — as likely contributors
•  However, the causes remain complex and intergenerational, with scientists citing exposure patterns dating back decades

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The Corn Belt's escalating cancer rates underscore the potential long-term health impacts of industrial agriculture
•  Pesticides, herbicides, and nitrate-heavy fertilizers are increasingly linked to cancers such as non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, testicular cancer, and leukemia
•  If environmental exposures are validated as a causal factor, the implications extend beyond Iowa — challenging regulatory frameworks and pushing for urgent reassessment of chemical safety standards
•  The findings reinforce the need for precautionary approaches to agricultural pollutants and improved environmental health monitoring

⏭️ What's next: Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds has allocated $1 million to establish a research group to investigate environmental and genetic cancer risk factors
•  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is reassessing glyphosate’s carcinogenicity, with updated findings expected in 2026. Lawsuits against Bayer, the manufacturer of Roundup, continue, with the company facing multibillion-dollar verdicts
•  In Iowa, efforts to legislate protections for chemical companies were defeated, while proposals to expand fertility coverage for young cancer patients remain stalled over cost concerns

💬 One quote: “We are a place where a lot of agrochemicals are used, both historically and currently. That raises concerns about exposures,” — Hans-Joachim Lehmler, Director, Environmental Health Sciences Research Center, University of Iowa

📈 One stat: Young adults in Corn Belt states have a 66% higher skin cancer rate among women and 35% higher among men compared to their peers elsewhere in the U.S., according to Washington Post analysis of national cancer data

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