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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Nitrite

Forrest City Waterworks

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.

 

19

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2013N/A00N/A
2014ND30ND
2015ND40ND
2016ND30ND
2017ND30ND
2018ND30ND
2019ND30ND

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
2014-06-25141770002ND
2014-06-25141770003ND
2014-12-03Y143380005ND
2015-06-16Y151680004ND
2015-06-16Y151680014ND
2015-12-01Y153370018ND
2015-12-01Y153370019ND
2016-06-22Y161750003ND
2016-06-22Y161750002ND
2016-06-22Y161750001ND
2017-08-22Y172360008ND
2017-08-22Y172360009ND
2017-09-12Y172570003ND
2018-06-12Y181650006ND
2018-06-12Y181650010ND
2018-06-12Y181650005ND
2019-11-20Y193250047ND
2019-11-20Y193250049ND
2019-11-20Y193250048ND