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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Nitrite

Pennsylvania American Water Pittsburgh

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

 

84

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20140.00714 ppm141ND - 0.1000 ppm
20150.0214 ppm142ND - 0.200 ppm
20160.0571 ppm144ND - 0.300 ppm
20170.0214 ppm142ND - 0.200 ppm
20180.0500 ppm143ND - 0.300 ppm
20190.0429 ppm142ND - 0.300 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
2014-07-1626124901ND
2014-07-1626126501ND
2014-07-1626126601ND
2014-07-1626126301ND
2014-07-1626125301ND
2014-07-1626125101ND
2014-08-0626528101ND
2014-08-2027022401ND
2014-10-0727112401ND
2014-10-0727111501ND
2014-10-0727111801ND
2014-10-0727112501ND
2014-10-0727111401ND
2014-10-22275929010.1000 ppm
2015-07-0713075029ND
2015-07-0713075037ND
2015-07-0713075039ND
2015-07-0713075033ND
2015-07-0713075035ND
2015-07-0713075031ND
2015-08-0513198212ND
2015-08-1013198175ND
2015-10-1413450750ND
2015-10-1413450754ND
2015-10-14134507520.1000 ppm
2015-10-14134507480.200 ppm
2015-10-1413450756ND
2015-10-1413450746ND
2016-07-2014653080ND
2016-07-2014653078ND
2016-07-20146530740.200 ppm
2016-07-2014653072ND
2016-07-2014653076ND
2016-07-2014653082ND
2016-08-0214821652ND
2016-08-0314821650ND
2016-10-1815152934ND
2016-10-1815152938ND
2016-10-18151529360.300 ppm
2016-10-18151529320.200 ppm
2016-10-1815152940ND
2016-10-18151529300.1000 ppm
2017-07-2016489787ND
2017-07-2016489820ND
2017-07-20164897850.1000 ppm
2017-07-2016489818ND
2017-07-2016489816ND
2017-07-2016489783ND
2017-08-0216646189ND
2017-08-0816646186ND
2017-10-1716953570ND
2017-10-1716953574ND
2017-10-17169535720.200 ppm
2017-10-1716953576ND
2017-10-1716953568ND
2017-10-1716953566ND
2018-07-2340218501ND
2018-07-23402173010.300 ppm
2018-07-2340217501ND
2018-07-23402183010.300 ppm
2018-07-2340218601ND
2018-07-2340217101ND
2018-08-0640661401ND
2018-08-0740660101ND
2018-10-2941317901ND
2018-10-2941318601ND
2018-10-2941318701ND
2018-10-2941318501ND
2018-10-2941318101ND
2018-10-29413180010.1000 ppm
2019-07-1645028201ND
2019-07-1645027001ND
2019-07-1645027801ND
2019-07-16450279010.300 ppm
2019-07-1645028001ND
2019-07-1645028101ND
2019-08-0645841001ND
2019-08-0845839601ND
2019-10-1646839301ND
2019-10-16468395010.300 ppm
2019-10-1646839601ND
2019-10-1646839701ND
2019-10-1646839801ND
2019-10-1646839401ND