2007 GSA Denver Annual Meeting (28–31 October 2007)

Paper No. 10
Presentation Time: 10:55 AM

NITRITE IN DRINKING WATER NOURISHES GROWTH OF CANCER


HSU, Kenneth J., Institute of Resources Recycling, Nanjing Univ, Nanjing, China, DICKSON, Frank W., Geological Sciences and Engineering, University of Nevada Reno, Reno, NV 89557 and CARMAN, Max F., 900 East Harrison Avenue, Apt. 70-12, Pomona, CA 91767, Kenjhsu@aol.com

Most Westerners do not know that Chinese scientists found that incidence of cancer correlates positively with nitrite in drinking waters. Cancer mortality rates are 10 or 20 per 100,000 persons in rural communities with waters low in nitrite and 200-300 in North America and Europe, where drinking waters are high in nitrite. Authorities at Linzhou, China, varied nitrite in drinking waters and found that rates of cancer are functions of nitrite concentrations. Nitrite-high waters can be converted to healthy waters by patented processes.

Bacteria consume nitrite by anaerobic metabolism. Low levels of nitrogen compounds on earth's surface and large amounts of nitrogen gas in the atmosphere result from conversion of nitrogen compounds to elemental nitrogen by bacteria in surface waters. Cells evolved about 2.5 byr BP, under an earth's atmosphere containing little oxygen. Waters de-nitrify as part of a natural cycle. Elevated concentrations of nitrate on earth's surface require unusual conditions; nitrate minerals in deposits of Chile formed in an exceptionally dry climate lacking anaerobic bacteria. However, nitrite from sewage plants produced by biodegrading organic matter under oxidizing conditions and discharged into surface waters disrupts the natural cycle. Cancer rates in the West strongly increased after construction of such plants. Hsu and Matusumoto (2007) suggest that cancer results from defects in genes, from symbiogenetic evolution of cell processes at lower oxygen activities. The mineral oxygen in nitrite supplied to cancer cells may be the indispensable nutrient needed for the anaerobic respiration of cancer cells. Nitrite may not cause cancer, but it sustains the growth of tumor cells. Jumbled DNA of chromosomes of cancer cells is thought to result from cancer, but some argue that it is the cause. Exact replication of DNA is needed for normal cell processes; cell growth with chaotic DNA should not be able to compete. Cancer cells that form are nourished by nitrite in body tissues. Chinese officials in Donqquang, China, funded a pilot plant to convert 6 million tons per day of waste water to drinkable water by processes of Kenneth Hsu IHC Technology Ltd.