Nitrite

Lexington

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	Detections	Range of results
2014	N/A	0	0	N/A
2015	0.770 ppm	7	7	0.180 ppm - 1.70 ppm
2016	0.425 ppm	4	3	ND - 0.690 ppm
2017	0.655 ppm	4	4	0.380 ppm - 1.40 ppm
2018	ND	5	0	ND
2019	ND	4	0	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
2015-02-02	5020065-01	1.70 ppm
2015-02-05	5020884-01	1.70 ppm
2015-02-09	5021195-01	0.590 ppm
2015-02-23	5022964-01	0.230 ppm
2015-04-06	5040666-01	0.340 ppm
2015-07-06	5070617-01	0.650 ppm
2015-11-02	5110100-01	0.180 ppm
2016-02-01	6020096-01	0.690 ppm
2016-04-04	6040262-01	0.400 ppm
2016-07-11	6071479-01	0.610 ppm
2016-12-05	6120463-01	ND
2017-03-06	7030710-01	0.440 ppm
2017-05-01	7050127-01	0.380 ppm
2017-08-07	7081403-01	0.400 ppm
2017-11-06	7110789-01	1.40 ppm
2018-01-08	8010846-01	ND
2018-03-29	8034581-01	ND
2018-04-02	8040077-01	ND
2018-07-02	8070187-01	ND
2018-11-05	8110533-01	ND
2019-02-04	9020230-01	ND
2019-05-06	9051140-01	ND
2019-07-01	9070163-01	ND
2019-10-16	9103306-01	ND