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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Nitrate and nitrite

Cinnabar, The

Nitrate and nitrite enter water from fertilizer runoff, septic tanks and urban runoff. These contaminants can cause oxygen deprivation for infants and increase the risk of cancer. Nitrite is significantly more toxic than nitrate. Click here to read more about nitrate.

 

7

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

3

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20140.150 ppm110.150 ppm
20150.120 ppm110.120 ppm
20160.110 ppm220.0700 ppm - 0.150 ppm
20170.120 ppm110.120 ppm
20180.120 ppm110.120 ppm
20190.720 ppm110.720 ppm

ppm = parts per million

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

EWG Health Guideline 0.14 ppm

The health guideline of 0.14 parts per million, or ppm, for nitrate and nitrite is based on the equivalent health guideline for nitrate, as defined in a peer-reviewed scientific study by EWG. This guideline represents a one-in-one-million annual cancer risk level.

EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL) 10 ppm

ppm = parts per million

All test results

Date Lab ID Result
2014-07-14B14071316-003A0.150 ppm
2015-07-15B15071572-003A0.120 ppm
2016-07-14B16071150-003A0.150 ppm
2016-10-06B16100640-001C0.0700 ppm
2017-03-14B17031118-003A0.120 ppm
2018-03-07B18030614-003A0.120 ppm
2019-03-20B19031699-001A0.720 ppm