MSU Extension/Kalamazoo County
MSUE PROGRAMS - Environmental Resources Guide
NITRATES
Nitrate is a form of nitrogen combined with oxygen, which the human body converts to nitrite. Nitrates in drinking water pose a serious health risk to infants less than six months of age. High nitrate levels do not usually affect older individuals. High levels of nitrate in drinking water can cause a disease called methemoglobinemia which reduces the red blood cell's ability to carry oxygen and will cause the affected person to have bluish skin. This condition can be fatal if the victim is not given immediate medical attention.
Maximum contaminant level:
- 10 mg/L of nitrate
- 1 mg/L of nitrite
Treatment for nitrate contaminated water:
- Distillation, ion exchange, and reverse osmosis can be used to remove nitrate from drinking water.
Nitrates enter groundwater through:
- Livestock waste
- Septic tanks/drainfield effluent
- Crop and lawn fertilizer
- Municipal wastewater sludge application
- Natural geologic nitrogen
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