Why are nitrates considered a problem?
Drinking water high in nitrates and other contaminants poses risks to infants, pregnant women, the elderly and people with compromised immune systems. In infants, high nitrates can cause methemoglobinemia, or blue baby syndrome. Research isn’t conclusive, but pregnant women are believed to be at greater risk for having babies with birth defects as a result of drinking water high in nitrates. The conditions of people with heart or lung diseases, certain inherited enzyme defects, or cancer may be worsened by ingesting too many nitrates. In addition, some experts believe that long-term ingestion of water high in nitrates may increase the risk of certain types of cancer. No agency systematically keeps track of the rate of such medical problems. Many scientists consider nitrates a warning of overall water problems. If nitrates are high, well water may also contain bacteria like E.coli, which can cause infections, and other contaminants, including pesticides, viruses and pathogens. For more
