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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Nitrite

Golden Valley Water Association

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.

 

28

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND40ND
2015ND40ND
2016ND40ND
2017ND50ND
2018ND70ND
2019ND40ND

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
2014-02-2703675ND
2014-06-1814107ND
2014-09-2324871ND
2014-12-1631703ND
2015-01-1400903ND
2015-06-2518147ND
2015-08-2625674ND
2015-11-1935603ND
2016-02-11ND
2016-06-22ND
2016-09-22ND
2016-12-21ND
2017-03-22ND
2017-06-21ND
2017-08-09ND
2017-11-28ND
2017-12-11ND
2018-01-10ND
2018-02-28ND
2018-05-22ND
2018-06-13ND
2018-08-26ND
2018-09-05ND
2018-12-06ND
2019-03-20ND
2019-05-30ND
2019-08-21ND
2019-12-12ND