Nitrite

Rubidoux Community SD

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.

MORE ABOUT THIS CONTAMINANT

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	6	ND
2015	ND	6	ND
2016	ND	2	ND
2017	ND	5	ND
2018	ND	4	ND
2019	ND	6	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
2014-08-05	4790-015-0800	ND
2014-08-05	4790-014-0815	ND
2014-08-05	4790-013-0845	ND
2014-08-05	4790-006-1050	ND
2014-08-05	4790-004-1015	ND
2014-08-05	4790-002-0730	ND
2015-08-18	4790-015-0905	ND
2015-08-18	4790-013-0850	ND
2015-08-18	4790-002-0935	ND
2015-08-18	4790-014-0915	ND
2015-08-19	4790-004-1010	ND
2015-08-19	4790-006-1005	ND
2016-08-09	4790-004-0900	ND
2016-08-09	4790-006-1230	ND
2017-08-01	4790-013-1100	ND
2017-08-01	4790-014-1115	ND
2017-08-01	4790-006-1025	ND
2017-08-01	4790-004-1030	ND
2017-08-01	4790-002-1050	ND
2018-08-16	4790-013-0745	ND
2018-08-16	4790-014-0840	ND
2018-08-16	4790-006-1100	ND
2018-08-16	4790-002-1140	ND
2019-03-28	4790-029-1315	ND
2019-08-07	4790-013-1000	ND
2019-08-07	4790-028-1020	ND
2019-08-07	4790-002-1030	ND
2019-08-13	4790-006-1145	ND
2019-09-26	4790-002-1420	ND