Nitrite

City of Laurel

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.

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Samples

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

Year	Average result	Samples taken	Range of results
2014	ND	5	ND
2015	ND	5	ND
2016	ND	5	ND
2017	ND	5	ND
2018	ND	5	ND
2019	ND	6	ND

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
2014-03-31	140401-015NI	ND
2014-03-31	140401-014NI	ND
2014-03-31	140401-013NI	ND
2014-03-31	140401-012NI	ND
2014-03-31	140401-011NI	ND
2015-03-23	150324-057NI	ND
2015-03-23	150324-056NI	ND
2015-03-23	150324-055NI	ND
2015-03-23	150324-054NI	ND
2015-03-23	150324-053NI	ND
2016-04-13	160414-035NI	ND
2016-04-13	160414-034NI	ND
2016-04-13	160414-033NI	ND
2016-04-13	160414-032NI	ND
2016-04-13	160414-006NI	ND
2017-02-21	170222-047NI	ND
2017-02-21	170222-046NI	ND
2017-02-21	170222-045NI	ND
2017-02-21	170222-044NI	ND
2017-02-21	170222-032NI	ND
2018-02-20	180221-088NI	ND
2018-02-20	180221-087NI	ND
2018-02-20	180221-086NI	ND
2018-02-20	180221-085NI	ND
2018-02-20	180221-081NI	ND
2019-02-25	190226-064NI	ND
2019-02-25	190226-059NI	ND
2019-02-25	190226-058NI	ND
2019-02-25	190226-057NI	ND
2019-02-25	190226-049NI	ND
2019-10-30	191031-001NI	ND