Nitrite
City of Pasadena
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.
32
Samples
0
Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)
0
Samples exceeding
health guidelines
Testing results - average by year
| Year | Average result | Samples taken | Detections | Range of results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 0.0433 ppm | 6 | 6 | 0.01000 ppm - 0.0700 ppm |
| 2015 | 0.0938 ppm | 8 | 6 | ND - 0.410 ppm |
| 2016 | 0.205 ppm | 4 | 3 | ND - 0.550 ppm |
| 2017 | 0.0260 ppm | 5 | 4 | ND - 0.0500 ppm |
| 2018 | 0.0300 ppm | 5 | 5 | 0.01000 ppm - 0.0800 ppm |
| 2019 | 0.0590 ppm | 4 | 3 | ND - 0.116 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2014-03-06 | AC45878 | 0.0500 ppm |
| 2014-03-06 | AC45870 | 0.0500 ppm |
| 2014-04-24 | AC51629 | 0.01000 ppm |
| 2014-08-21 | AC64786 | 0.0200 ppm |
| 2014-08-21 | AC64779 | 0.0600 ppm |
| 2014-11-25 | AC72934 | 0.0700 ppm |
| 2015-01-14 | AC76105 | 0.0200 ppm |
| 2015-01-14 | AC76107 | ND |
| 2015-01-14 | AC76109 | 0.0200 ppm |
| 2015-01-14 | AC76108 | 0.230 ppm |
| 2015-05-27 | AC93355 | ND |
| 2015-07-22 | AD00535 | 0.410 ppm |
| 2015-07-22 | AD00507 | 0.0200 ppm |
| 2015-10-06 | AD09542 | 0.0500 ppm |
| 2016-01-11 | AD17232 | ND |
| 2016-04-06 | AD31963 | 0.550 ppm |
| 2016-07-06 | AD43044 | 0.240 ppm |
| 2016-10-06 | AD52607 | 0.0300 ppm |
| 2017-01-10 | AD63811 | 0.0200 ppm |
| 2017-03-16 | AD75332 | ND |
| 2017-05-16 | AD84340 | 0.0200 ppm |
| 2017-07-11 | AD88779 | 0.0500 ppm |
| 2017-10-31 | AE02821 | 0.0400 ppm |
| 2018-02-06 | AE12342 | 0.0200 ppm |
| 2018-05-02 | AE24723 | 0.01000 ppm |
| 2018-06-26 | AE31335 | 0.0300 ppm |
| 2018-07-30 | AE34808 | 0.01000 ppm |
| 2018-11-14 | AE45985 | 0.0800 ppm |
| 2019-03-06 | AE57260 | 0.0600 ppm |
| 2019-04-23 | Q1916425001 | 0.116 ppm |
| 2019-08-06 | AE77142 | 0.0600 ppm |
| 2019-10-21 | AE86997 | ND |