Nitrite

Bartlett

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	Detections	Range of results
2013	N/A	0	0	N/A
2014	ND	6	0	ND
2015	ND	6	0	ND
2016	ND	6	0	ND
2017	ND	3	0	ND
2018	0.0160 ppm	4	1	ND - 0.0640 ppm
2019	N/A	0	0	N/A

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
2014-07-23	1407F56-001B	ND
2014-07-23	1407F56-002B	ND
2014-07-23	1407F56-002A	ND
2014-07-23	1407F56-001A	ND
2014-12-08	1412441-001B	ND
2014-12-08	1412441-001A	ND
2015-09-02	1509268-001B	ND
2015-09-02	1509268-001A	ND
2015-09-02	1509268-002B	ND
2015-09-02	1509268-002A	ND
2015-09-02	1509268-003B	ND
2015-09-02	1509268-003A	ND
2016-08-01	1608063-001A	ND
2016-08-01	1608063-003A	ND
2016-08-01	1608063-003B	ND
2016-08-01	1608063-002B	ND
2016-08-01	1608063-002A	ND
2016-08-01	1608063-001B	ND
2017-07-19	1707E90-002A	ND
2017-07-19	1707E90-001A	ND
2017-07-19	1707E90-003A	ND
2018-08-22	1808J98-001A	ND
2018-08-22	1808J98-002A	ND
2018-08-22	1808J98-003A	ND
2018-08-22	1808J98-004A	0.0640 ppm