Nitrite

City of Auburn

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	6	ND
2015	ND	5	ND
2016	ND	6	ND
2017	ND	10	ND
2018	ND	6	ND
2019	N/A	0	N/A

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
2014-08-26	53707	ND
2014-08-26	53706	ND
2014-08-26	53723	ND
2014-08-26	53722	ND
2014-08-26	53709	ND
2014-08-26	53708	ND
2015-08-19	58151	ND
2015-08-19	58150	ND
2015-08-19	58149	ND
2015-08-19	58153	ND
2015-08-19	58148	ND
2016-08-03		ND
2016-08-03		ND
2016-08-03		ND
2016-08-03		ND
2016-08-03		ND
2016-08-17		ND
2017-08-16		ND
2017-08-16		ND
2017-08-16		ND
2017-08-16		ND
2017-08-16		ND
2017-08-16		ND
2017-08-16		ND
2017-08-16		ND
2017-11-28		ND
2017-12-05		ND
2018-08-15		ND
2018-08-15		ND
2018-08-15		ND
2018-08-15		ND
2018-08-15		ND
2018-08-15		ND