Nitrates are naturally occurring inorganic ions. They are part of the nitrogen cycle and are commonly found in groundwater and surface water.
Nitrates used in fertilizers are a major source of contamination for shallow groundwater aquifers that provide drinking water. Other sources of nitrate contamination are from septic system leaching, animal waste, plants, industrial and municipal wastes and internal combustion engine emissions. Wells located in areas used heavily for farming, especially cattle feed lots and fields to which nitrogen fertilizers are added, are especially at risk for nitrate contamination.
Food is the most significant source of nitrates for adults but water may play a more important role for infants. For bottle-fed infants, the major source of nitrate exposure is drinking water from domestic wells used to dilute formula.
The presence of greater than 10 ppm of nitrate in the water appears to be linked to a methemoglobinemia or more commonly known as "blue baby". It is a disease that deprives the tissues in the body of oxygen. The body being deprived of oxygen can lead to death by suffocation. It is usually confined to infants up to 3 months old, though it has been known to affect children as old as 6 years. Adults are unaffected.
If you are pregnant or have young children, it is advisable to have your well tested for nitrates. Contact a Public Health Inspector at the Health Unit office nearest to you.
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