Basin Water, Inc

The Dangers of Nitrate

For most people, consuming small amounts of nitrate is not harmful; the conditions associated with nitrate are especially dangerous for infants six months of age or younger. Nitrate is regulated in drinking water primarily because excess levels can cause methemoglobinemia, more commonly known as "blue baby" disease.

Nitrate is colorless and odorless, making it very difficult to detect.

Blood contains an iron-based compound called hemoglobin, which carries oxygen. When nitrite is present, the hemoglobin can convert to a compound called methemoglobin, which cannot carry oxygen. Newborn infants have lower levels of these enzymes than adults, with a methemoglobin level of only 1 to 2 percent. Anything above that level is considered methemoglobinemia.

At higher levels of methemoglobin, symptoms of cyanosis begin to appear; bluish mucous membranes form, and the infant may also develop digestive and respiratory problems. At methemoglobin levels above 20 to 30 percent, the blood's capacity to carry oxygen is severely reduced, causing a condition known as anoxia. At methemoglobin levels around 50 to 70 percent, brain damage or death can occur.

Although nitrate is not readily considered harmful for older children and adults, some recent studies have indicated a possible connection between elevated nitrate concentrations and cancer.

Nitrate contamination is also an important issue for animal farmers, since cattle, horses, sheep, baby pigs, and baby chickens are susceptible to nitrate poisoning.

Boiling nitrate-contaminated water before drinking it does not make it any safer. In fact, it causes some of the water to evaporate, which increases the nitrate concentration.

Regulation of Nitrate

Drinking-water standards for nitrate have been around since at least 1974, when the Safe Drinking Water Act was passed. States may set their own drinking-water standard for nitrate, but most or all use the EPA standard of 10 milligrams per liter as nitrogen and 45 milligrams per liter as nitrate.

Nitrate is recognized by the USGS as one of the most widespread contaminants of shallow gorundwater across the United States, particularly in agricultural areas. According to a recent National Water Quality Assessment survey completed by the USGS, more than 8,200 groundwater wells were forced to be contaminated with nitrate levels exceeding the EPA MCL of 10 ppm. In terms of population affected by nitrate contamination, the United States Department of Health and Human Services currently estimated that 1% to 2% of the United States Population, or approximately 3.0 million to 6.0 million people, may be consuming drinking water from the public water system with nitrate levels exceeding the current EPA MCL.

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Nitrate
Nitrate Information Page 1 Nitrate Customers Page 2 What is Nitrate? Page 3 Dangers of Nitrate Page 4 Theory Behind Ion Exchange Page 5 Advantages of Ion Exchange Page 6 The Basin Water System Other Contaminants The Dangers of Nitrate > Next Page For most people, consuming small amounts of nitrate is not harmful; the conditions associated with nitrate are especially dangerous for infants six months of age or younger. Nitrate is regulated in drinking water primarily because excess levels can cause methemoglobinemia, more commonly known as "blue baby" disease. Nitrate is colorless and odorless, making it very difficult to detect. Blood contains an iron-based compound called hemoglobin, which carries oxygen. When nitrite is present, the hemoglobin can convert to a compound called methemoglobin, which cannot carry oxygen. Newborn infants have lower levels of these enzymes than adults, with a methemoglobin level of only 1 to 2 percent. Anything above that level is considered methemoglobinemia. At higher levels of methemoglobin, symptoms of cyanosis begin to appear; bluish mucous membranes form, and the infant may also develop digestive and respiratory problems. At methemoglobin levels above 20 to 30 percent, the blood's capacity to carry oxygen is severely reduced, causing a condition known as anoxia. At methemoglobin levels around 50 to 70 percent, brain damage or death can occur. Although nitrate is not readily considered harmful for older children and adults, some recent studies have indicated a possible connection between elevated nitrate concentrations and cancer. Nitrate contamination is also an important issue for animal farmers, since cattle, horses, sheep, baby pigs, and baby chickens are susceptible to nitrate poisoning. Boiling nitrate-contaminated water before drinking it does not make it any safer. In fact, it causes some of the water to evaporate, which increases the nitrate concentration. Regulation of Nitrate Drinking-water standards for nitrate have been around since at least 1974, when the Safe Drinking Water Act was passed. States may set their own drinking-water standard for nitrate, but most or all use the EPA standard of 10 milligrams per liter as nitrogen and 45 milligrams per liter as nitrate. Nitrate is recognized by the USGS as one of the most widespread contaminants of shallow gorundwater across the United States, particularly in agricultural areas. According to a recent National Water Quality Assessment survey completed by the USGS, more than 8,200 groundwater wells were forced to be contaminated with nitrate levels exceeding the EPA MCL of 10 ppm. In terms of population affected by nitrate contamination, the United States Department of Health and Human Services currently estimated that 1% to 2% of the United States Population, or approximately 3.0 million to 6.0 million people, may be consuming drinking water from the public water system with nitrate levels exceeding the current EPA MCL. > Next Page: Basin Water's Ion Exchange Technology
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