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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Nitrite

United Water Pa Mechanicsburg

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.

 

30

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND50ND
2015ND50ND
2016ND50ND
2017ND50ND
2018ND50ND
2019ND50ND

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
2014-03-181076638001ND
2014-04-152001635001ND
2014-07-072016172002ND
2014-07-072016172001ND
2014-10-092033532001ND
2015-02-0312479203ND
2015-05-1112841455ND
2015-07-0712974649ND
2015-07-0712974693ND
2015-10-0713475197ND
2016-01-1313834597ND
2016-04-1914206418ND
2016-08-1014857568ND
2016-08-1014857612ND
2016-11-1015326800ND
2017-02-0715752220ND
2017-05-0216046480ND
2017-08-0116520113ND
2017-08-0116520090ND
2017-10-1016981650ND
2018-02-232297488002ND
2018-05-012312001001ND
2018-08-072330781001ND
2018-08-072330781002ND
2018-11-123000062001ND
2019-01-15H9A0708-02ND
2019-04-10H9D0711-01ND
2019-08-06H9H0636-01ND
2019-08-07H9H0668-01ND
2019-11-05H9K0519-01ND