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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Nitrite

C S & I Water Association #1

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.

 

13

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
2017ND30ND
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
2014-01-27140128-033NIND
2014-01-27140128-034NIND
2015-01-26150127-082NIND
2015-01-26150127-083NIND
2016-03-21160322-079NIND
2016-03-21160322-082NIND
2017-01-25170126-003NIND
2017-01-25170126-004NIND
2017-10-30171031-009NIND
2018-02-12180213-038NIND
2018-02-12180213-047NIND
2019-02-25190226-032NIND
2019-02-25190226-033NIND