Consumer Factsheet on: NITRATES/NITRITES
List of Contaminants
As part of the Drinking Water and Health pages, this fact sheet is part of a larger publication:
National Primary Drinking Water Regulations
This is a factsheet about a chemical that may be found in some public or private drinking water supplies.
It may cause health problems if found in amounts greater than the health standard set by the United
States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
What are Nitrates/Nitrites and how are they used?
Nitrates and nitrites are nitrogen-oxygen chemical units which combines with various organic and
inorganic compounds. Once taken into the body, nitrates are converted into nitrites. The greatest use of
nitrates is as a fertilizer.
Why are Nitrates/Nitrites being regulated?
In 1974, Congress passed the Safe Drinking Water Act. This law requires EPA to determine safe levels of
chemicals in drinking water which do or may cause health problems. These non-enforceable levels,
based solely on possible health risks and exposure, are called Maximum Contaminant Level Goals.
The MCLG for nitrates has been set at 10 parts per million (ppm), and for nitrites at 1 ppm, because EPA
believes this level of protection would not cause any of the potential health problems described below.
Based on this MCLG, EPA has set an enforceable standard called a Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL).
MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as possible, considering the ability of public water systems to detect
and remove contaminants using suitable treatment technologies.
The MCL for nitrates has been set at 10 ppm, and for nitrites at 1 ppm, because EPA believes, given
present technology and resources, this is the lowest level to which water systems can reasonably be
required to remove this contaminant should it occur in drinking water.
These drinking water standards and the regulations for ensuring these standards are met, are called
National Primary Drinking Water Regulations. All public water supplies must abide by these regulations.
What are the health effects?
Short-term: Excessive levels of nitrate in drinking water have caused serious illness and sometimes
death. The serious illness in infants is due to the conversion of nitrate to nitrite by the body, which can
interfere with the oxygen-carrying capacity of the childs blood. This can be an acute condition in which
health deteriorates rapidly over a period of days. Symptoms include shortness of breath and blueness of
the skin.
Long-term: Nitrates and nitrites have the potential to cause the following effects from a lifetime exposure
at levels above the MCL: diuresis, increased starchy deposits and hemorrhaging of the spleen.
How much Nitrates/Nitrites are produced and released to the
environment?

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Most nitrogenous materials in natural waters tend to be converted to nitrate, so all sources of combined
nitrogen, particularly organic nitrogen and ammonia, should be considered as potential nitrate sources.
Primary sources of organic nitrates include human sewage and livestock manure, especially from
feedlots.
The primary inorganic nitrates which may contaminate drinking water are potassium nitrate and
ammonium nitrate both of which are widely used as fertilizers.
According to the Toxics Release Inventory, releases to water and land totaled over 112 million pounds
from 1991 through 1993. The largest releases of inorganic nitrates occurred in Georgia and California.
What happens to Nitrates/Nitrites when they are released to the
environment?
Since they are very soluble and do not bind to soils, nitrates have a high potential to migrate to ground
water. Because they do not evaporate, nitrates/nitrites are likely to remain in water until consumed by
plants or other organisms.
How will Nitrates/Nitrites be detected in and removed from my
drinking water?
The regulation for nitrates/nitrites became effective in 1992. Between 1993 and 1995, EPA required your
water supplier to collect water samples at least once a year and analyze tem to find out if nitrates/nitrites
are present above 50 percent of their MCLs. If it is present above this level, the system must continue to
monitor this contaminant every 3 months.
If contaminant levels are found to be consistently above their MCLs, your water supplier must take steps
to reduce the amount of nitrates/nitrites so that they are consistently below that level. The following
treatment methods have been approved by EPA for removing nitrates/nitrites: Ion exchange, Reverse
Osmosis, Electrodialysis.
How will I know if Nitrates/Nitrites are in my drinking water?
If the levels of nitrates/nitrites exceed their MCLs, the system must notify the public via newspapers,
radio, TV and other means. Additional actions, such as providing alternative drinking water supplies, may
be required to prevent serious risks to public health.
Drinking Water Standards (ppm): MCLG MCL
Nitrate:
10
10
Nitrite:
1
1
Nitrate and Nitrite Releases to Water and Land: 1991 to 1993 (in
pounds)

i Water
Land
TOTALS
i 59,014,378
53,134,805

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i Top Fifteen States'1
GA
12,114,253
12,028,585
CA
0
21,840,999
AL
3,463,097
6,014,674
LA
8,778,237
2,250
MO
6,985,890
206,181
MS
6,952,387
0
KS
5,140,000
877,095
VA
5,091,764 0
NV
0
4,977,482
FL
1,056,560
1,835,736
AR
1,206,610
1,058,294
MD
1,802,219
138,819
IA
1,500,340
132,042
OK
1,436,348
14,199
UT
0
1,045,400
Nitrogenous fertilizer
Misc. Ind. inorganics
i Misc. Metal ores
i Misc. Ind. organics
; Fertilizer mixing
i Explosives
i Paper mills
Pulp mills
Canned foods
Phosphate fertilizers
Major Industries'1
41,584,611
4,113,312
5,091,764
480,000
850,921
1,727,061
1,321,500
1,000,000
8,607,376
29,676,919
5,764,976
4,554,916
1,297,590
0
3,350
| 1,056,794
0
* State/Industry totals only include facilities with releases greater than 10,000 lbs.
Learn more about your drinking water!
EPA strongly encourages people to learn more about their drinking water, and to support local efforts to
protect and upgrade the supply of safe drinking water. Your water bill or telephone books government
listings are a good starting point.
Your local water supplier can give you a list of the chemicals they test for in your water, as well as how
your water is treated.

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Your state Department of Health/Environment is also a valuable source of information.
For help in locating these agencies or for information on drinking water in general, call: EPAs Safe
Drinking Water Hotline: (800) 426-4791.
For additional information on the uses and releases of chemicals in your state, contact the: Community
Right-to-Know Hotline: (800) 424-9346.

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