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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Nitrite

California Water Service Company - East Los Angeles

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.

 

16

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND10ND
2015ND40ND
2016ND30ND
2017ND10ND
2018ND40ND
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
2014-06-025810-034-1108ND
2015-04-205810-012-1115ND
2015-08-115810-006-1303ND
2015-08-195810-004-1310ND
2015-08-195810-055-1345ND
2016-04-195810-011-1326ND
2016-05-175810-023-1442ND
2016-12-205810-025-1423ND
2017-06-275810-034-1021ND
2018-04-185810-012-1342ND
2018-08-215810-004-1500ND
2018-08-215810-055-1415ND
2018-08-305810-006-1145ND
2019-04-095810-011-1126ND
2019-05-145810-023-1507ND
2019-12-199590-025-1105ND