You cannot taste, see, or smell them, but man-made and naturally occurring compounds known as nitrates may be lurking in your drinking water. Everyone should have access to safe drinking water as a fundamental human right, but exposure to water contaminated with nitrates puts people at risk. Consuming water containing nitrates in high amounts and over extended periods immensely increases the risk of harmful human health concerns. Scientific studies show that the greater the quantity of nitrates in drinking water, the greater the risk of potential health concerns. There is a call by some public health officials for a review of safe nitrate levels in drinking water. Many countries follow guidelines set out by the World Health Organization (WHO), established in the 1950s, mainly to help prevent blue baby syndrome. However, today, with new research, there is growing evidence that ingesting even low nitrate levels produces many more harmful and possibly even fatal human health effects than were known in the past.
What Are Nitrates?
Nitrates are inorganic chemical compounds made when nitrogen combines with ozone or oxygen. They naturally occur in the environment and can also come from man-made sources. Nitrates are also produced when some microorganisms and lightening oxidize nitrogen. Nitrate molecules are required in nature to help some plants and animals grow, and they are also highly soluble in water. Nitrate is non-toxic, but when ingested, it reacts with bacteria in the stomach and is reduced to nitrite. The nitrite enters the bloodstream and can reduce the body’s ability to transport oxygen, causing hazardous health issues.
The most common human activities that produce nitrates include wastewater treatment, discharges from motor vehicles, and industrial processes (food processing waste or fertilizer and manure use).
A safe daily allowable limit has been determined since nitrates are found naturally in some fruits, vegetables, and water. So, many people who ingest small amounts of nitrate will excrete them without harm. However, exposure to nitrates through some medications (burn creams and angina medications), nitrate-processed meats, and some prepared soups and baby foods will undoubtedly increase the risk of adverse health issues. Although there are several other sources, nitrate-contaminated drinking water remains one of the leading causes of toxic public nitrate exposure.
Nitrate compounds found in lakes, rivers, or groundwater are usually present in low concentrations. However, there are some other areas where nitrate levels are high enough to cause concern and present health risks, such as in shallow drinking water wells. A high-quality certified laboratory water test is the only way to determine if your water contains nitrates and if results show nitrate levels above safe set standards in drinking water. For private well owners, contact local health departments for vital information on private well water testing.
How Do Nitrates Get Into Drinking Water?
Nitrates can enter drinking water sources through agricultural runoff, leaking septic systems, and other sources of pollution. Some communities likely to experience high nitrate levels include rural farming areas that rely on the town’s groundwater or household-drilled well water. The use of synthetic fertilizers and regions with high populations of dairy farming are two examples of significant causes of increased nitrogen contamination in drinking water. Nitrates are used in explosive and munition manufacturing as well as in ceramic production. Landfills, wastewater disposal sites, and golf courses can also see high nitrate levels. High levels of nitrates in drinking water can also contribute to the growth of toxic algae blooms and other water quality issues that can lead to adverse health issues.
Nitrates are a form of nitrogen that can be a natural part of groundwater or soil. Drinking water can be a high source of nitrates. Food can also be a high source of nitrate contamination for humans. Nitrates are only a concern when ingested; they are not absorbed through the skin. It will not help to boil water contaminated with nitrates; it may even slightly increase nitrate levels. Disinfecting water will also not remove nitrates from drinking water; they are chemicals, so disinfecting will not kill them like it kills germs. Unfortunately, carbon filters like those found in countertop water pitchers or refrigerators will not effectively remove nitrates.
Is Any Amount of Nitrate Safe?
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set the safe drinking water standards for nitrate to 10 milligrams per liter (mg/L) or 10 parts per million (ppm). If your drinking water tests are higher than 10 ppm, you should stop drinking the water and use an alternate drinking water source, such as a (reverse osmosis) water purification system, which can provide purified drinking water.
Most public or municipal water systems are required to test for nitrates regularly. Suppose nitrate levels are found to be higher than set standards. In that case, local authorities should issue a do not drink advisory, especially for sensitive populations such as infants, pregnant women, and anyone immune compromised. Residents should immediately stop using tap water and use an alternative water source.
Private well users should test for nitrates at least annually or if they notice any changes to their well water since nitrate levels can change frequently. In certain areas, it is common to find that wells (especially shallow wells) contain high nitrate levels. If well water tests positive for unacceptable nitrate levels, you should stop using the water, and an alternate water source should be used until the increased nitrate levels improve. If levels do not improve, a long-term solution should be implemented, such as a certified professional water filtration system, or a new well may need to be drilled.
Infants are at a much greater risk for dangerous health issues from ingesting nitrates, so it is vital to discontinue using your nitrate-contaminated tap or well water for making baby formula or sterilizing and washing any bottles or feeding items. If available, use purified reverse osmosis water to prepare powdered baby formula.
Washing dishes and utensils and cleaning food and kitchen surfaces cause further contamination if an alternate water source is not used. Also, food and drink preparation, including making drinks such as coffee, tea, or lemonade, should not use nitrate-contaminated water.
If your drinking water tests positive for nitrates, switching to an alternate source can quickly become very costly to eat and drink safely in your home. It would require substantial amounts of bottled water with more time used to travel and purchase heavy cases or jugs. Investing in a high-quality water purification system such as an Excalibur Reverse Osmosis System would provide your home with worry-free, crystal clear, pure drinking water that removes nitrates and several other harmful contaminants.
Health Concerns of Nitrates in Drinking Water
Drinking water contaminated with nitrates can pose serious health risks, especially for infants and pregnant women. Nitrates can interfere with an infant’s ability of their blood to carry oxygen, leading to a condition called methemoglobinemia or blue baby syndrome. The condition causes the baby’s blood to turn blue, which can progress rapidly. Symptoms include shortness of breath, excess heart rate, fatigue, and blueness of the skin, and in severe cases, the condition can cause coma and be fatal.
A recent California study reported pregnant people drinking higher than 5mg/L of nitrate increased the chance of spontaneous pre-term birth by 47%. A Danish study found ingesting nitrate in drinking water is associated with fetal growth restriction and reduced birth weight. Further studies have concluded that maternal exposure to nitrate ingestion increases the risk of congenital abnormalities and birth defects.
Drinking nitrate-contaminated water prior to or early in pregnancy increases the risk of neural tubal defects in infants. These types of birth defects affect the formation of the brain and the spinal cord. Neural tubal defects occur very early in pregnancy, possibly before even knowing a woman is pregnant. For anyone planning to become pregnant, it is essential to check the nitrate levels in your drinking water to prevent any early damage that can occur before being aware of the pregnancy.
Nitrate exposure can produce adverse health issues in people of all ages, and there is evidence that exposure to as little as 1 mg/L may produce potential harmful effects. Studies link drinking water contaminated with nitrates with an increased risk of thyroid disease.
Long-term exposure to high levels of nitrates has also been linked to an increased risk of certain types of cancer. Also, long-term consumption of nitrate has shown an increased risk of thyroid, bladder, breast, ovarian, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and stomach cancers. There are also reports that ingesting nitrates may increase the risk of colon cancer. Additionally, nitrates in water can contribute to the growth of harmful algae blooms, which also produce harmful human health hazards.
A 2022 study from France stated there is a link between exposure to nitrate and or nitrites and the risk of colon cancer. A study from Denmark shows a small exposure to nitrates over a long-term of more than 20 years, and there was a greater risk of developing bowel cancer. Another 2021 study from New Zealand also highlighted the link between nitrate consumption and increased risk of bowel cancer. It is clear that removing nitrates from your drinking water should be a priority.
How To Effectively Remove Nitrates From Drinking Water
There are several effective methods to remove nitrates from drinking water. It is important to note that most conventional water treatment processes at municipal water treatment facilities are ineffective at removing nitrates. Municipalities must use added technologies such as reverse osmosis, ion exchange, and electrodialysis to achieve nitrate levels less than the set safe drinking water nitrate limits. Not all communities use these added technologies, leaving residents with nitrate-tainted drinking water. Having a home water purification system is becoming vital to know that the water you and your family drink is safe and pure.
Residential water treatment methods are able to produce drinking water with nitrate levels at or below the set acceptable limit. The most commonly used methods readily available to homeowners for providing safer drinking water with fewer nitrates are the Ion exchange technology and reverse osmosis filtration systems.
The first method uses anion exchange resins, which exchange negatively charged ions, such as nitrates, for other negatively charged ions. The nitrates are absorbed by the filter media resin. The Excalibur Filtermax Nitrates Filter removes up to 100 parts per million(pp) of nitrates, producing nitrate-free water throughout your entire home 24/7 while continuously monitoring water usage. It is controlled by a computer chip, has a high flow control valve to satisfy household demand, and is energy-saving using low voltage electricity 12 VAC.
To ensure nitrate-free water, it is vital to test your water and consult a professional water treatment specialist. Many homes with drinking water drawn from private wells experience high nitrate levels, making a nitrate removal filter an essential part of a home water filtration system. In order to remove nitrates, first, your water must be free of hardness, hydrogen sulfide, and iron. An experienced water treatment specialist can determine the ideal water filtration system for your home, including the Filtermax Nitrates Filter and any other necessary components.
Another method for nitrate removal is a reverse osmosis water filtration system. The reverse osmosis process forces your water through a semipermeable membrane that filters out nitrates and several other contaminants by letting only clean, pure water through to a dedicated reverse osmosis tap while the polluted water is sent down the drain.
After installing nitrate removal technology in your home, water quality should be monitored and retested regularly to ensure the nitrates and other contaminants have been properly removed and that no break-through nitrate is present.
For more information about the Excalibur Filtermax™ Nitrates Filter, please contact us.
