Menu

EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

Donate

Nitrite

Mallard Water Supply

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.

 

6

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014N/A00N/A
2015N/A00N/A
2016N/A00N/A
2017ND20ND
2018ND20ND
20190.0550 ppm21ND - 0.110 ppm

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
2017-04-25570394ND
2017-04-25570393ND
2018-05-07585804ND
2018-05-07585805ND
2019-06-18OE8227730.110 ppm
2019-06-18OE822774ND