Nitrite

Bear Creek W/A-West

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.

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Samples

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

Year	Average result	Samples taken	Range of results
2014	ND	5	ND
2015	ND	5	ND
2016	ND	5	ND
2017	ND	6	ND
2018	ND	5	ND
2019	ND	5	ND

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
2014-04-14	140415-064NI	ND
2014-04-14	140415-063NI	ND
2014-04-14	140415-062NI	ND
2014-04-14	140415-061NI	ND
2014-04-14	140415-060NI	ND
2015-04-13	150414-008NI	ND
2015-04-13	150414-007NI	ND
2015-04-13	150414-006NI	ND
2015-04-13	150414-005NI	ND
2015-04-13	150414-002NI	ND
2016-04-27	160428-051NI	ND
2016-04-27	160428-048NI	ND
2016-04-27	160428-046NI	ND
2016-04-27	160428-045NI	ND
2016-04-27	160428-044NI	ND
2017-03-08	170309-101NI	ND
2017-03-08	170309-100NI	ND
2017-03-08	170309-098NI	ND
2017-03-08	170309-097NI	ND
2017-03-08	170309-094NI	ND
2017-11-07	171109-004NI	ND
2018-03-05	180306-063NI	ND
2018-03-05	180306-062NI	ND
2018-03-05	180306-061NI	ND
2018-03-05	180306-060NI	ND
2018-03-05	180306-059NI	ND
2019-04-10	190412-003NI	ND
2019-04-10	190412-008NI	ND
2019-04-10	190412-007NI	ND
2019-04-10	190412-005NI	ND
2019-04-10	190412-004NI	ND