Why is nitrate in drinking water bad?

Nitrate can affect how our blood carries oxygen. Nitrate can turn hemoglobin (the protein in blood that carries oxygen) into methemoglobin . High levels can turn skin to a bluish or gray color and cause more serious health effects like weakness, excess heart rate, fatigue, and dizziness.

What is nitrate and why is it important?

Nitrate (NO3-) is composed of the elements oxygen and nitrogen, and is an important source of nitrogen for plant and animal life; but too much nitrate in drinking water can be harmful to human health.

What are nitrates?

Nitrates are naturally found in some vegetables, dairy products and meat. There is no recommendation to limit foods that naturally contain nitrates. Nitrates are also added to processed meats as a preservative. There is strong research that shows a diet high in processed meats increases the risk of colon cancer.

Are nitrates regulated?

The US EPA has set these levels of protection based on the best available science to prevent potential health problems. Based on the MCLG, EPA has set an enforceable regulation for total nitrate/nitrite, the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL), at 10 mg/L (10 ppm)(as N) and for nitrite at 1 mg/L (1 ppm)(as N).

What does nitrate do to your body?

It’s thought that sodium nitrate may damage your blood vessels, making your arteries more likely to harden and narrow, leading to heart disease. Nitrates may also affect the way your body uses sugar, making you more likely to develop diabetes.

Can nitrates in water make you sick?

Ingesting water with high levels of nitrate/nitrite can make people sick. Private drinking water sources (e.g., wells, dugouts, springs) can sometimes contain unsafe levels of nitrates/nitrites. If a baby drinks water with high nitrate/nitrite levels or it’s used to make formula, it might cause blue baby syndrome.

Is nitrate good in water?

Safe Level. Drinking water with concentrations of nitrate (measured as nitrate-nitrogen) below 10 milligrams of nitrate per liter of water (mg/L) is considered safe for everyone in your family. 10 mg/L is the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standard for nitrate in drinking water for public water supplies.

How much nitrate is safe in drinking water in ppm?

The safe level for nitrate in drinking water is 10 parts per million (ppm). Drinking water with nitrate above 10 ppm is unsafe. A single exposure above 10 ppm can affect a person’s health.

Why are nitrates bad?

Sodium nitrate, a preservative that’s used in some processed meats, such as bacon, jerky and luncheon meats, could increase your heart disease risk. It’s thought that sodium nitrate may damage your blood vessels, making your arteries more likely to harden and narrow, leading to heart disease.

How does nitrate get into water?

Nitrate can get into water directly as the result of runoff of fertilizers containing nitrate. Some nitrate enters water from the atmosphere, which carries nitrogen-containing compounds derived from automobiles and other sources.

How much nitrate is safe in drinking water?

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standard for nitrate in drinking water is 10 milligrams of nitrate (measured as nitrogen) per liter of drinking water (mg/L). * Drinking water with levels of nitrate at or below 10 mg/L is considered safe for everyone.

Who nitrate guidelines for drinking water?

The maximum contaminant level (MCL) for nitrate in public drinking water supplies in the United States (U.S.) is 10 mg/L as nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N). This concentration is approximately equivalent to the World Health Organization (WHO) guideline of 50 mg/L as NO3 or 11.3 mg/L NO3-N (multiply NO3 mg/L by 0.2258).

What is nitrate in drinking water?

Nitrate is a compound that is formed naturally when nitrogen combines with oxygen or ozone. Nitrogen is essential for all living things, but high levels of nitrate in drinking water can be dangerous to health, especially for infants and pregnant women.

What is nitrate and why is it dangerous?

What is nitrate? Nitrate is a compound that is formed naturally when nitrogen combines with oxygen or ozone. Nitrogen is essential for all living things, but high levels of nitrate in drinking water can be dangerous to health, especially for infants and pregnant women.

What is the concentration of nitrates in groundwater?

For example, concentrations of up to 1500 mg/l were found in groundwater in an agricultural area of India (Jacks & Sharma, 1983). In the USA, nitrates are present in most surface water and groundwater supplies at levels below 4 mg/l, with levels exceeding 20 mg/l in about 3\% of surface waters and 6\% of groundwaters.

Is 10 ppm nitrate safe to drink?

Nitrate levels greater than 10 ppm exceed state and federal standards for nitrate in public drinking water supplies. No infant or any female who is or may become pregnant should consume any water that exceeds this standard (either by drinking or by eating foods prepared with the water such as soups, juices, and coffee).