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Describe the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) recommended limit for nitrates and nitrites in drinking water. Describe the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) recommended limit for nitrates and nitrites in bottled water and foodstuffs.
Infants below the age of six months who drink water containing nitrate in excess of the MCL could become seriously ill and, if untreated, may die. Symptoms include shortness of breath and blue-baby syndrome. Runoff from fertilizer use; leaking from septic tanks, sewage; erosion of natural deposits.
The maximum contaminant level (MCL) for nitrate in public drinking water supplies in the United States (U.S.) is 10 mg/L as nitrate-nitrogen (NO 3 -N). This concentration is approximately equivalent to the World Health Organization (WHO) guideline of 50 mg/L as NO 3 or 11.3 mg/L NO 3 -N (multiply NO 3 mg/L by 0.2258).
EPA’s maximum contaminant level (MCL) for nitrate set to protect against blue-baby syndrome is 10 mg/l. The data in this indicator show the total area and percent of state area predicted to have nitrate concentrations exceeding EPA’s MCL, or 10 mg/l in groundwater used for drinking.
How Much Nitrate is Safe in Water? The U.S. EPA has set a Maximum Contaminant Level of 10 mg/L of nitrate in drinking water. However, many organizations argue that the EPA’s Maximum Contaminant Level is too lenient and that nitrate may cause harm even in these trace amounts.
Based on more recent studies showing correlation between serious health impacts and nitrate levels significantly below 10 mg/L, the Environmental Protection Agency and the states should reassess legal limits for nitrate in drinking water.
The maximum contaminant level, or EPA’s drinking water standard, for nitrate is 10 milligrams per liter (mg/L), which is the same thing as 10 parts per million (ppm). If a nitrate test shows levels higher than 10 ppm, you should find a safe, alternate drinking water supply. The quickest thing to do is to begin using bottled water for drinking.