Nitrite
Southwestern Pennsylvania Water Authority
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.
Testing results - average by year
Year | Average result | Samples taken | Detections | Range of results |
---|---|---|---|---|
2013 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
2014 | 0.0795 ppm | 73 | 35 | ND - 0.280 ppm |
2015 | ND | 1 | 0 | ND |
2016 | ND | 1 | 0 | ND |
2017 | ND | 2 | 0 | ND |
2018 | ND | 1 | 0 | ND |
2019 | ND | 1 | 0 | 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 |
---|---|---|
2014-04-29 | 04141948 | ND |
2014-04-29 | 04141949 | ND |
2014-04-29 | 04141947 | ND |
2014-05-07 | 05140590 | ND |
2014-05-07 | 05140589 | ND |
2014-05-07 | 05140588 | ND |
2014-05-14 | 05141109 | ND |
2014-05-14 | 05141108 | 0.130 ppm |
2014-05-14 | 05141107 | ND |
2014-05-21 | 05141536 | ND |
2014-05-21 | 05141535 | ND |
2014-05-21 | 05141534 | ND |
2014-05-28 | 05141927 | 0.140 ppm |
2014-05-28 | 05141926 | ND |
2014-05-28 | 05141928 | ND |
2014-06-04 | 06140377 | 0.120 ppm |
2014-06-04 | 06140378 | ND |
2014-06-04 | 06140379 | 0.120 ppm |
2014-06-11 | 06140955 | 0.120 ppm |
2014-06-11 | 06140956 | 0.130 ppm |
2014-06-11 | 06140957 | 0.120 ppm |
2014-06-18 | 06141513 | ND |
2014-06-19 | 06141514 | 0.120 ppm |
2014-06-19 | 06141515 | 0.130 ppm |
2014-06-26 | 06141985 | ND |
2014-06-26 | 06141984 | ND |
2014-06-26 | 06141986 | ND |
2014-07-02 | 07140353 | ND |
2014-07-02 | 07140355 | 0.120 ppm |
2014-07-03 | 07140354 | 0.120 ppm |
2014-07-16 | 07141343 | 0.280 ppm |
2014-07-16 | 07141342 | ND |
2014-07-16 | 07141344 | ND |
2014-07-23 | 07141870 | 0.120 ppm |
2014-07-23 | 07141869 | 0.280 ppm |
2014-07-23 | 07141868 | ND |
2014-07-30 | 07142311 | ND |
2014-07-30 | 07142310 | 0.260 ppm |
2014-07-30 | 07142309 | ND |
2014-08-14 | 08141175 | ND |
2014-08-14 | 08141174 | 0.250 ppm |
2014-08-14 | 08141173 | 0.120 ppm |
2014-08-20 | 08141741 | 0.140 ppm |
2014-08-20 | 08141740 | 0.220 ppm |
2014-08-20 | 08141739 | ND |
2014-08-27 | 08142142 | 0.180 ppm |
2014-08-27 | 08142141 | ND |
2014-08-28 | 08142143 | ND |
2014-09-03 | 09140395 | 0.150 ppm |
2014-09-03 | 09140394 | ND |
2014-09-03 | 09140396 | 0.140 ppm |
2014-09-10 | 09140990 | 0.140 ppm |
2014-09-10 | 09140989 | ND |
2014-09-10 | 09140991 | 0.220 ppm |
2014-09-11 | 09141049 | ND |
2014-09-17 | 09141553 | 0.130 ppm |
2014-09-17 | 09141552 | 0.150 ppm |
2014-09-17 | 09141551 | ND |
2014-09-25 | 09142108 | 0.140 ppm |
2014-09-25 | 09142107 | 0.170 ppm |
2014-09-25 | 09142106 | ND |
2014-10-01 | 1.0140211E7 | ND |
2014-10-01 | 1.0140213E7 | 0.160 ppm |
2014-10-02 | 1.0140212E7 | 0.180 ppm |
2014-10-16 | 1.0141292E7 | 0.200 ppm |
2014-10-16 | 1.0141293E7 | ND |
2014-10-16 | 1.0141291E7 | ND |
2014-10-22 | 1.0141816E7 | 0.220 ppm |
2014-10-22 | 1.0141817E7 | 0.180 ppm |
2014-10-22 | 1.0141815E7 | ND |
2014-11-05 | 11140518 | ND |
2014-11-05 | 11140520 | 0.220 ppm |
2014-11-05 | 11140519 | 0.180 ppm |
2015-09-23 | 13334129 | ND |
2016-09-29 | 15004817 | ND |
2017-07-20 | 16497699 | ND |
2017-10-12 | 16961086 | ND |
2018-09-19 | 18I1783-04 | ND |
2019-09-25 | 19I2786-01 | ND |