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Technical Factsheet on: NITRATE/NITRITE
List of Contaminants
As part of the Drinking Water and Health pages, this fact sheet is part of a larger publication:
National Primary Drinking Water Regulations
Drinking Water Standards (in mg/L)
Nitrate- MCLG: 10; MCL: 10; 10-day HAL: 10
Nitrite- MCLG: 1; MCL: 1; 10-day HAL: 1
Total (Nitrate+Nitrite)- MCLG: 10; MCL: 10; 10-day HAL: 10
Health Effects Summary
Acute: Excessive levels of nitrate in drinking water have caused serious illness and sometimes
death. The serious illness in infants is due to the conversion of nitrate to nitrite by the body,
which can interfere with the oxygen-carrying capacity of the child's blood. This can be an acute
condition in which health deteriorates rapidly over a period of days. Symptoms include shortness
of breath and blueness of the skin.
Drinking water levels which are considered "safe" for short-term exposures: For a 10-kg (22 lb.)
child consuming 1 liter of water per day, a ten-day exposure to 10 mg/L total nitrate/nitrite.
Chronic: Effects of chronic exposure to high levels of nitrate/nitrite include diuresis, increased
starchy deposits and hemorrhaging of the spleen.
Cancer: There is inadequate evidence to state whether or not nitrates or nitrites have the potential
to cause cancer from lifetime exposures in drinking water.
Usage Patterns
Most nitrogenous materials in natural waters tend to be converted to nitrate, so all sources of
combined nitrogen, particularly organic nitrogen and ammonia, should be considered as potential
nitrate sources. Primary sources of organic nitrates include human sewage and livestock manure,
especially from feedlots.
The primary inorganic nitrates which may contaminate drinking water are potassium nitrate and
ammonium nitrate. Potassium nitrates are used mainly as fertilizers (85%), with the remainder in
heat transfer salts, glass and ceramics, and in matches and fireworks. Ammonium nitrates are
used as fertilizers (84%) and in explosives and blasting agents (16%).
Release Patterns
The major environmental releases of inorganic sources of nitrates are due to the use of fertilizers.
According to the Toxics Release Inventory, releases to water and land totalled over 112 million
pounds from 1991 through 1993. The largest releases of inorganic nitrates occurred in Georgia
and California.
Environmental Fate
Due to its high solubility and weak retention by soil, nitrates are very mobile in soil, moving at
approximately the same rate as water, and has a high potential to migrate to ground water.
Because it does not volatilize, nitrate/nitrite is likely to remain in water until consumed by plants
or other organisms. Ammonium nitrate will be taken up by bacteria. Nitrate is more persistent in
water than the ammonium ion. Nitrate degradation is fastest in anaerobic conditions.
Chemical/Physical Properties
CAS Number: Nitrate ion: 14797-55-8; Nitrite ion: 14797-65-0
Color/ Form/Odor: Domestic fertilizer grade ammonium or potassium nitrates are
in prilled (beaded) or crystalline forms, usually coated with an anti-caking
agent and adsorbed fuel oil.
Solubilities: Nitrates and nitrites are highly soluble in water
Soil sorption coefficient: N/A
Bioconcentration Factor: N/A
Trade Names/Synonyms:
Potassium salt: Potnit, Hitec, Niter, Nitrate of potash, Saltpeter.
Ammonium salt: German or Norway saltpeter, Varioform I, Merco or Herco prills, Nitram.
Other Regulatory Information
| Monitoring: |
| -- For Ground Water Sources: |
| Initial Frequency-Nitrate: 1 sample annually |
| | Nitrite: 1 sample during first 3-year compliance period |
| Repeat Frequency-Nitrate: 1 sample annually |
| | Nitrite: determined by State |
| -- For Surface Water Sources: |
| Initial Frequency-Nitrate: 1 sample each quarter |
| | Nitrite: 1 sample during first 3-year compliance period |
| Repeat Frequency-Nitrate: 1 sample annually |
| | Nitrite: determined by State |
| --Triggers - If detect at > 5 mg/L nitrate, sample quarterly. |
| | If detect at > 0.5 mg/L nitrite, sample quarterly. |
| | If detect total nitrate + nitrite > 5 mg/L, sample quarterly |
Analysis
| Reference Source | Method Number |
|---|
| |
| |
| |
EPA 600/4-79-020 353.1; 353.2; 353.3; 300.0; 354.1
Standard Methods 418C; 418F
ASTM D3867-85A; D3867-85B
Treatment/Best Available Technologies: Ion exchange; Reverse osmosis; Electrodialysis
(nitrate only)
Toxic Release Inventory - Releases to Water and Land, 1987 to 1993 (in pounds):
| | Water | Land |
|---|
| TOTALS | 59,014,378 | 53,134,805 |
|---|
| Top Fifteen States* |
|---|
|
GA | 12,114,253 | 12,028,585
| |
CA | 0 | 21,840,999
| |
AL | 3,463,097 | 6,014,674
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LA | 8,778,237 | 2,250
| |
MO | 6,985,890 | 206,181
| |
MS | 6,952,387 | 0
| |
KS | 5,140,000 | 877,095
| |
VA | 5,091,764 0
| |
NV | 0 | 4,977,482
| |
FL | 1,056,560 | 1,835,736
| |
AR | 1,206,610 | 1,058,294
| |
MD | 1,802,219 | 138,819
| |
IA | 1,500,340 | 132,042
| |
OK | 1,436,348 | 14,199
| |
UT | 0 | 1,045,400
|
| Major Industries* |
|---|
|
Nitrogenous fertilizer | 41,584,611 | 8,607,376
| |
Misc. Ind. inorganics | 4,113,312 | 29,676,919
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Misc. Metal ores | 0 | 5,764,976
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Misc. Ind. organics | 5,091,764 | 0
| |
Fertilizer mixing | 480,000 | 4,554,916
| |
Explosives | 850,921 | 1,297,590
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Paper mills | 1,727,061 | 0
| |
Pulp mills | 1,321,500 | 3,350
| |
Canned foods | 0 | 1,056,794
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Phosphate fertilizers | 1,000,000 | 0
|
* State/Industry totals only include facilities with releases greater than 10,000 lbs.
For Additional Information:
EPA can provide further regulatory and other general information:
EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline - 800/426-4791
Other sources of toxicological and environmental fate data include:
Toxic Substance Control Act Information Line - 202/554-1404
Toxics Release Inventory, National Library of Medicine - 301/496-6531
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry - 404/639-6000
List of Contaminants
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