Barry's comments are correct. There is is increasing risk to infants as the concentrations exceed the WHO Guideline values for nitrate and nitrite. Nitrite is the greatest concern because it is the proximate toxic agent. The greatest risks are for infants who have a GI infection, and that is often a matter of microbial contamination of the source water, because the bacteria may be pathogens, and the water will also be under reducing conditions converting nitrate to nitrite. So the first thing to do is to assure that the source is safe and disinfected with chlorine. There is some leeway in the exceedance of the WHO guideline--be sure to read the short discussion in the 4th edition. If you are exceeding nitrate and the water is disinfected, you should both notify consumers (mothers) to be alert for the symptoms, and probably temporally use alternate low nitrate water. Methaemoglobinaemia is detectable and reversible.
Published by Joseph Cotruvo, President at Joseph Cotruvo & Associates, Water , Environment and Public Health
Barry's comments are correct. There is is increasing risk to infants as the concentrations exceed the WHO Guideline values for nitrate and nitrite. Nitrite is the greatest concern because it is the proximate toxic agent. The greatest risks are for infants who have a GI infection, and that is often a matter of microbial contamination of the source water, because the bacteria may be pathogens, and the water will also be under reducing conditions converting nitrate to nitrite. So the first thing to do is to assure that the source is safe and disinfected with chlorine. There is some leeway in the exceedance of the WHO guideline--be sure to read the short discussion in the 4th edition. If you are exceeding nitrate and the water is disinfected, you should both notify consumers (mothers) to be alert for the symptoms, and probably temporally use alternate low nitrate water. Methaemoglobinaemia is detectable and reversible.