Chemical and Pathogenic Contaminant Exposure: Nitrate

Nitrate occurrence in shallow ground water of the conterminous United States (Nolan et al. 2004) Elevated

Elevated concentrations of nitrate (and nitrite) in drinking water can cause blood disease in human babies. Therefore the USEPA has established a Maximum Contaminant Level for nitrate of 10 mg/L. Nitrate is an oxidized form of nitrogen that is naturally found in water resources in low concentrations but also can be found in elevated concentrations in ground and surface water draining agricultural or other areas where fertilizers or human and animal wastes are applied to, or enter, the environment.

U.S. Geological Survey research provides occurrence data as well as information on natural and anthropogenic sources of nitrogen and nitrogen cycling in the environment.

In Drinking Water

• Domestic-wells of the United States

Sources, environmental occurrence, fate and transport:

• Probability of nitrate contamination in ground waters of the United States.
• Columbia Basin Ground Water Management Area
• Chesapeake Bay Watershed

Other Sources of USGS Information on Nitrate in Water Resources

• National Water Quality Assessment Nutrient National Synthesis

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U.S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey
URL: http://health.usgs.gov/dw_contaminants/nitrate.html
Page Contact Information: Herb Buxton
Page Last Modified: 07-Nov-2006@15:39