Nitrite

Acton MUD

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

Samples

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

Year	Average result	Samples taken	Detections	Range of results
2014	ND	5	0	ND
2015	0.0108 ppm	15	2	ND - 0.0865 ppm
2016	ND	1	0	ND
2017	0.157 ppm	1	1	0.157 ppm
2018	N/A	0	0	N/A
2019	0.0293 ppm	4	1	ND - 0.117 ppm

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
2014-04-16	Q1412086007	ND
2014-04-16	Q1412086006	ND
2014-04-17	Q1412419009	ND
2014-04-17	Q1412419008	ND
2014-04-17	Q1412419007	ND
2015-02-09	Q1504919036	ND
2015-02-09	Q1504919043	0.0865 ppm
2015-02-09	Q1504919042	ND
2015-02-09	Q1504919041	ND
2015-02-09	Q1504919040	ND
2015-02-09	Q1504919039	ND
2015-02-09	Q1504919038	ND
2015-02-09	Q1504919037	ND
2015-02-09	Q1504919035	ND
2015-02-09	Q1504919034	ND
2015-10-27	Q1542321005	0.0760 ppm
2015-10-27	Q1542321004	ND
2015-10-27	Q1542321003	ND
2015-10-27	Q1542321002	ND
2015-10-27	Q1542321001	ND
2016-11-30	Q1652001004	ND
2017-10-05	Q1749124055	0.157 ppm
2019-03-26	Q1912275018	0.117 ppm
2019-03-26	Q1912275020	ND
2019-03-26	Q1912275019	ND
2019-03-26	Q1912275001	ND