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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Nitrite

Waialee-sunset Beach

Nitrite, closely related to the fertilizer chemical nitrate, comes from urban runoff and from fertilizer applied to agricultural lands to pollute drinking water. Nitrite is significantly more toxic than nitrate. Excessive nitrite in water can cause oxygen deprivation in infants and increase the risk of cancer.

 

21

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND40ND
2015ND30ND
2016ND30ND
2017ND30ND
2018ND40ND
2019ND40ND

ppm = parts per million

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL) 1 ppm

The legal limit for nitrite, established in 1991, was based on the rate of conversion of ingested nitrate into nitrite in adults. This limit may not fully protect against the risk of cancer due to nitrite exposure.

ppm = parts per million

All test results

Date Lab ID Result
2014-02-19201402210362ND
2014-02-20201402220086ND
2014-07-22201407230668ND
2014-07-22201407230669ND
2015-01-29201501300117ND
2015-02-02201502030171ND
2015-05-13201505140235ND
2016-01-13ND
2016-07-28ND
2016-09-19ND
2017-01-04ND
2017-02-24ND
2017-10-10ND
2018-01-09201712280239ND
2018-01-09201712280238ND
2018-04-25201804300496ND
2018-08-14201808160602ND
2019-01-23201901240309ND
2019-01-23201901240310ND
2019-01-23201901240311ND
2019-02-19201902210004ND