Nitrite
Maroa
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.
18
Samples
0
Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)
0
Samples exceeding
health guidelines
Testing results - average by year
| Year | Average result | Samples taken | Detections | Range of results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 0.248 ppm | 1 | 1 | 0.248 ppm |
| 2015 | 0.369 ppm | 1 | 1 | 0.369 ppm |
| 2016 | 0.343 ppm | 4 | 4 | 0.118 ppm - 0.756 ppm |
| 2017 | 0.599 ppm | 4 | 4 | 0.449 ppm - 0.726 ppm |
| 2018 | 0.375 ppm | 4 | 4 | 0.190 ppm - 0.582 ppm |
| 2019 | 0.462 ppm | 4 | 4 | 0.280 ppm - 0.590 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2014-01-15 | SA40277-01_01 | 0.248 ppm |
| 2015-01-20 | SA50440-01_01 | 0.369 ppm |
| 2016-01-12 | 16A0305-01_01 | 0.756 ppm |
| 2016-04-26 | 16D0629-01_01 | 0.118 ppm |
| 2016-08-16 | 16H0787-01_01 | 0.281 ppm |
| 2016-10-31 | 16K0001-01_01 | 0.216 ppm |
| 2017-01-17 | 17A0481-01_01 | 0.449 ppm |
| 2017-04-19 | 17D0571-01_01 | 0.726 ppm |
| 2017-07-31 | 17H0016-01_01 | 0.546 ppm |
| 2017-11-14 | 17K0416-01_01 | 0.674 ppm |
| 2018-01-17 | 18A0335-01_01 | 0.582 ppm |
| 2018-05-17 | 18E0771-01 | 0.500 ppm |
| 2018-08-06 | 18H0281-01 | 0.190 ppm |
| 2018-11-13 | 18K0354-01_01 | 0.228 ppm |
| 2019-01-16 | 19A0392-01_01 | 0.449 ppm |
| 2019-05-06 | 19E0142-01 | 0.280 ppm |
| 2019-08-06 | 19H0178-01 | 0.530 ppm |
| 2019-11-21 | 19K0605-01 | 0.590 ppm |