Posts Tagged: policy

Extreme weather accelerates nitrate pollution in groundwater

Extreme weather spurred by climate change, including droughts and heavy rains, may increase the risk of nitrates from fertilizers ending up in groundwater, according to a recent study from researchers at the University of California, Davis. The study found heavy rains after a drought caused nitrates to seep 33 feet under farm fields in as little as 10 days. The study was published in Water Resources Research.

“The conventional wisdom was that it could take several weeks to years for nitrates to move from the crop root zones to reach groundwater,” said corresponding author Isaya Kisekka, a professor in the Departments of Land, Air and Water Resources and Biological and Agricultural Engineering. “We found these extreme events, such as California's atmospheric rivers, are going to move nitrate more quickly.”

In this study, different methods were used to measure how much nitrate, a component of nitrogen fertilizer, was seeping down through the soil in a tomato and cucumber crop near Esparto, California. Scientists conducted their research from 2021 until 2023 when California was experiencing periods of drought followed by atmospheric rivers. They measured nitrate during both the growing seasons and the rainy seasons.

Drought can leave more nitrogen in soil

Previous studies have shown about 40% of nitrogen fertilizer used for vegetables isn't absorbed by the plants but remains in the soil. During droughts, crops don't use nitrogen efficiently, leading to excess nitrogen in the soil. This study found that if a drought is then followed by heavy rainfall, that sudden burst of water causes nitrate to seep in groundwater more quickly. The nitrate concentration in the shallow groundwater exceeded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency maximum contaminant level of 10 milligrams per liter for drinking water.

“In California, we often say we swing between droughts and floods,” said Kisekka. “These extreme events that come with climate change are going to make the risk of these chemicals ending up in our drinking water much more severe.”

Groundwater is the primary source of drinking water for most of California's Central Valley. In some regions, such as the Tulare Lake Basin, nearly one-third of drinking and irrigation wells exceed the EPA's safe nitrate level. High nitrate levels in drinking water can increase health risks, especially for young children. It may also increase the risk of colorectal cancer.

Need for real-time soil nitrate monitoring

Central Valley farmers are required to report to the Regional Water Board how much nitrogen they applied to their field and how much was removed as part of the crop's yield. The study compared different ways of monitoring when nitrate from fertilizers seep into groundwater. Kisekka said the results highlight the need for affordable, real-time soil nitrate monitoring tools to help farmers manage fertilizer use efficiently.

By using conservation practices that limit leftover nitrates in the crop's root zone after harvest, farmers can help reduce nitrate contamination in groundwater.  

This study's data will also help improve a model called SWAT, which is used to track nitrate seepage into groundwater across California's Central Valley. This effort is part of the Central Valley Water Board's program to regulate irrigated farmlands.

Other UC Davis authors include Iael Raij Hoffman, Thomas Harter and Helen Dahlke.

The study was supported by the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service through its Conservation Effects Assessment Project. The national project is designed to assess the effectiveness of conservation practices across different watersheds. The study also had support from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

Employee Comment: Presidential Policy Seismic Safety

The University of California Office of the President invites comments on a proposed Presidential Policy Seismic Safety. The policy is proposed to be revised and includes the following key issues:

• Replace the 2030 deadline with a continual improvement requirement for each location to achieve a minimum 4% per year reduction of non-compliant space above the established 2022 baseline square footage averaged over a three-year period. Note that any improvements completed in compliance with state-mandated requirements for critical care facilities will count towards the 4% reduction goal.

• All currently occupied Seismic Performance Rating VI facilities, shall be given the highest priority in capital planning and allocation decisions and brought into compliance with policy no later than Dec. 31, 2037.

• Existing leases for certain non-compliant UC-occupied facilities may be extended through 2037.

The proposed revisions are posted here: https://ucanr.edu/sites/PCPA/Revisions/.

If you have any questions or if you wish to comment on this policy revision, please contact Robin Sanchez at rgsanchez@ucanr.edu, no later than Nov. 1, 2024. Please indicate “Seismic Safety Policy” in the subject line.

Employee Comment: PPSM-84 Employee Consultation (Accommodations for Nursing Mothers)

The University of California is proposing revisions to PPSM-84 (Accommodations for Nursing Mothers), which applies to staff employees in the Professional & Support Staff, Managers & Senior Professionals, and Senior Management Group personnel groups.

This draft of PPSM-84 has been updated with technical and clarifying edits for compliance with legal requirements. 

The proposed revisions are posted here: https://ucanr.edu/sites/PCPA/Revisions/.

If you have any questions or if you wish to comment on this policy revision, please contact Robin Sanchez at rgsanchez@ucanr.edu no later than Sept. 20, 2024. Please indicate “Employee Consultation Policy” in the subject line.

UC seeks toddler volunteers for milk study

UC researchers will study effects of whole milk and low-fat milk on toddlers' health and development.

Researchers to study whether whole or low-fat milk is best for toddlers

San Francisco Bay Area toddlers who drink cow's milk are being sought to participate in a 12-month study by UC Nutrition Policy Institute, a part of University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources. Milk will be provided for free to participants.

Milk provides children with calcium, protein and vitamin D, which are essential for health and brain development. In the U.S., the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children switch from whole milk to low-fat or nonfat milk after age 2 to reduce their intake of saturated fat and calories.

“The purpose of this UC study is to see how the type of milk toddlers drink affects their health, growth and development,” said Kassandra Bacon, NPI project policy analyst.

Researchers with the Nutrition Policy Institute are recruiting children ages 23 to 30 months old. The 625 toddlers will be randomly assigned to drink either whole fat or 1% fat milk starting at age 2. The scientists will assess diet, health and developmental outcomes.

“We will follow each participant for one year, collecting baseline and follow-up data,” said Ryan Williams, a NPI project policy analyst and registered dietitian who is involved in the research.

For 12 months, the scientists will measure each child's height, weight, waist and head circumference. At the beginning and end of the study, parents will be required to take their children to a local lab for a blood draw to assess lipids, cholesterol, insulin resistance and vitamin D status, as well collect a sample of their child's stool so the scientists may analyze the gut microbiome. During a home visit, researchers will also interview parents about their child's development.

Benefits to participants

The assigned milk type will be delivered to participants free of charge via a grocery delivery service. Participating parents will receive advice from a registered dietitian to support healthy milk consumption as part of a balanced diet. The Nutrition Policy Institute also will send the parents monthly newsletters with general health tips. Participants also may earn up to $275 in gift cards by completing the study.

Requirements to participate

Participants for the milk study must meet these requirements:

• Child must be 23 to 30 months old and have public or private medical insurance
• Child's parent/legal guardian must be 18 years or older
• Child must live with the participating parent/legal guardian in the San Francisco Bay Area (Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Santa Clara, San Francisco or San Mateo counties)
• Child's parent or guardian must speak English

Children are ineligible for the study if they are:

• a WIC participant
• lactose intolerant
• allergic to milk protein

Lorrene Ritchie, NPI director and registered dietitian, and Anisha Patel, pediatrician at Stanford Medicine Children's Health and professor in the Division of General Pediatrics at Stanford University, are the principal investigators for the study.

For more information about the research and to sign up for the study, visit https://npi.ucanr.edu/milk.

Employee Comment: Proposed Presidential Policy – Externally Supplied Medications in UC Outpatient and Clinic Settings

The University of California Office of the President invites comments on a proposed Presidential Policy Use of Externally Supplied Medications in UC Outpatient and Clinic Settings. The policy is proposed to be revised and includes the following key issues: 

• The Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA) is a federal law that requires UC to be able to track and trace all medications given to patients. Currently, there are medications coming into our UC system that we can't track and trace because they are externally supplied by outside pharmacies. This policy would ban the use of medications that were externally supplied outside of our contracted distributors.
• UC has identified that externally supplied medications not only go against the DSCSA, but also lead to gaps in patient care and wastage of medication.
• Rare exceptions to this policy exist in cases of first-time patient education and in patient assistance programs.

The proposed revisions are posted here: https://ucanr.edu/sites/PCPA/Revisions/.

If you have any questions or if you wish to comment on this policy revision, please contact Robin Sanchez at rgsanchez@ucanr.edu, no later than Oct. 31, 2024. Please indicate “External Medications Policy” in the subject line.

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