How Does Nitrate Affect Human Health?
Under certain conditions, the body changes nitrate into a related compound, nitrite. Methemoglobinemia, a form of anemia, can result from the reaction of nitrite with hemoglobin in the blood. When this occurs, the ability of the blood to carry oxygen to the body’s tissues is decreased. In infants, this condition is one of the causes of “blue baby” syndrome. Infants are especially susceptible for four reasons: • their fluid intake per body weight is greater than that of adults; • their stomach acidity can be lower than adults, thus allowing the growth of stomach bacteria that change nitrate into nitrite; • they have a form of hemoglobin that is more likely to form methemoglobin; and • they are less able to change methemoglobin back into normal hemoglobin. Pregnant women are also more susceptible to nitrate-induced methemoglobinemia since they have higher than normal levels of methemoglobin. Nitrite can react to form a variety of N-nitroso compounds by reacting with proteins in the stoma
