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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Nitrite

Iowa-American Water Company - Davenport

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.

 

12

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND20ND
2015ND20ND
2016ND20ND
2017ND20ND
2018ND20ND
2019ND20ND

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
2014-05-212053176ND
2014-05-212053177ND
2015-05-1928890001ND
2015-05-1928890301ND
2016-05-2431970301ND
2016-05-2431970601ND
2017-05-1135379601ND
2017-05-1135379901ND
2018-05-0739373801ND
2018-05-0739374101ND
2019-05-0643953201ND
2019-05-0643953501ND