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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Nitrite

Aqua Pa Uwchlan

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.

MORE ABOUT THIS CONTAMINANT

 

47

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND60ND
2015ND60ND
2016ND60ND
2017ND70ND
2018ND90ND
2019ND130ND

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
2014-04-23AE29860ND
2014-05-23AE33370ND
2014-05-23AE33371ND
2014-05-23AE33372ND
2014-09-17AE48206ND
2014-12-17AE60670ND
2015-02-0312395216ND
2015-02-0312395221ND
2015-02-0312395219ND
2015-02-0312395212ND
2015-02-0412395215ND
2015-02-0412395211ND
2016-01-2213746301ND
2016-01-2213746295ND
2016-01-2213746299ND
2016-01-2213746297ND
2016-06-2214397351ND
2016-08-0414726912ND
2017-06-2116249800ND
2017-06-2116249796ND
2017-06-2116249794ND
2017-06-2116249792ND
2017-06-2116249798ND
2017-08-2216557684ND
2017-11-0717016208ND
2018-01-16AF73366ND
2018-01-16AF73365ND
2018-01-29AF74449ND
2018-01-31AF73819ND
2018-02-26AF76935ND
2018-02-26AF76934ND
2018-04-10AF80305ND
2018-07-10AF87888ND
2018-10-09AF97279ND
2019-01-29AG07049ND
2019-03-06AG10268ND
2019-03-06AG10266ND
2019-03-06AG10267ND
2019-03-12AG10439ND
2019-03-12AG10441ND
2019-04-09AG13290ND
2019-05-17AG15924ND
2019-07-02AG22064ND
2019-07-02AG22063ND
2019-10-08AG34485ND
2019-10-08AG34484ND
2019-11-07AG37520ND