Nitrate

Nitrate is….• An inorganic

compound. NO3-

• Doesn’t occur naturally in groundwater!

• Common non-point source type of pollution.

Nitrate (NO3-) vs. Nitrite (NO2

-)

Image from Online Encyclopedia Britannica

Nitrogen Cycle

Nitrite in the news• Sodium Nitrite

(NaNO2) is used commonly as a food preservative.

• Foods that contain the highest amounts of NaNO2 are smoked and cured meats.

Common Sources of Nitrate

Tom Gentle, Oregon State University EESC

Common Sources of Nitrate

Image from epa.gov

Image Source: Produced by Agricultural Communications, The Texas A&M University System, EPA

Common Sources of Nitrate

Image from epa.gov

Images from Utah State

How does nitrate get into drinking water?

Used in plants when it is in the root zone.

Nitrate is a negatively charged ion

Isn’t adsorbed (held) by negatively charged soil particles.

Moves easily with water.

Once it is past the root zone it moves rapidly downward into groundwater.

What is a safe level of nitrate in drinking water?Health Standard for PUBLIC DRINKING

WATER SUPPLIES is

10 ppm nitrate nitrogenNo regulation of PRIVATE DRINKING

WATER SUPPLIES

If nitrate is detected, learn more about risk to you.

What are the health issues with nitrate in drinking water?

Methemoglobinemia or “Blue Baby Syndrome”

High level of nitrate consumption can cause a reduction in the oxygen-carrying capacity of blood by increasing the amount of methemoglobin.

Methemoglobin is a non-oxygen-carrying enzyme

Infants will start to show obvious symptoms of cyanosis – a bluish color to the skin.

What are the health issues with nitrate in drinking water?

Unconfirmed as a contributing factor in:

Diabetes

Reproductive difficulties

Thyroid Dysfunction

Decreased liver function

Respiratory infections

Cancer

Nitrate in the groundwater now!Treatment options

Reverse osmosis

Distillation

Protect groundwater supplies from further contamination

What are some steps that can be taken?

Nitrate ScreeningScreen your

samples from home, a control, and a mystery sample.