Nitrite

City of Brookhaven

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	Range of results
2014	ND	7	ND
2015	ND	6	ND
2016	ND	6	ND
2017	ND	4	ND
2018	ND	5	ND
2019	ND	3	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
2014-04-14	140415-017NI	ND
2014-04-14	140415-012NI	ND
2014-04-14	140415-002NI	ND
2014-04-14	140415-001NI	ND
2014-04-16	140417-035NI	ND
2014-07-23	140724-003NI	ND
2014-12-03	141204-001NI	ND
2015-04-06	150407-041NI	ND
2015-04-06	150407-034NI	ND
2015-04-06	150407-033NI	ND
2015-04-06	150407-028NI	ND
2015-04-06	150407-026NI	ND
2015-11-18	151119-009NI	ND
2016-04-26	160427-047NI	ND
2016-04-27	160428-006NI	ND
2016-04-27	160428-007NI	ND
2016-04-27	160428-005NI	ND
2016-04-27	160428-004NI	ND
2016-11-29	161130-011NI	ND
2017-03-08	170309-075NI	ND
2017-03-08	170309-074NI	ND
2017-03-08	170309-073NI	ND
2017-11-13	171114-001NI	ND
2018-03-06	180307-014NI	ND
2018-03-06	180307-013NI	ND
2018-03-06	180307-012NI	ND
2018-03-07	180308-005NI	ND
2018-11-06	181107-003NI	ND
2019-04-08	190409-002NI	ND
2019-04-08	190409-004NI	ND
2019-04-08	190409-003NI	ND