Nitrite

City of Red Bluff

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	13	ND
2015	N/A	0	N/A
2016	ND	1	ND
2017	ND	12	ND
2018	N/A	0	N/A
2019	ND	1	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
2014-04-24	5867-015-0800	ND
2014-04-24	5867-014-0910	ND
2014-04-24	5867-012-0740	ND
2014-04-24	5867-011-0920	ND
2014-04-24	5867-010-0845	ND
2014-04-24	5867-008-0750	ND
2014-04-24	5867-007-0815	ND
2014-04-24	5867-005-0900	ND
2014-04-24	5867-004-0805	ND
2014-04-24	5867-003-0830	ND
2014-04-24	5867-002-0825	ND
2014-04-24	5867-001-0820	ND
2014-12-05	5867-009-0830	ND
2016-03-31	5867-015-0900	ND
2017-04-06	5867-002-1005	ND
2017-04-06	5867-014-1035	ND
2017-04-06	5867-012-0845	ND
2017-04-06	5867-011-1050	ND
2017-04-06	5867-010-0950	ND
2017-04-06	5867-009-0825	ND
2017-04-06	5867-008-0900	ND
2017-04-06	5867-007-0925	ND
2017-04-06	5867-005-0935	ND
2017-04-06	5867-004-0915	ND
2017-04-06	5867-003-1000	ND
2017-04-06	5867-001-1010	ND
2019-04-16	5867-015-0900	ND