Nitrate Contamination of Groundwater: Sources and Potential Health Effects

摘要: Because nitrate contamination of groundwater is pandemic and the costs associated with remediating are high, question risk to human health from needs be addressed. In order prevent methemoglobinemia (an acute toxic response nitrite exposure that precludes transport oxygen by blood), US Environmental Protection Agency has set maximum contaminant level for in drinking water at 10 mg nitrate-N/L. However, it quite common agricultural areas exceed this standard some time during year. A relationship between intake cancer not been conclusively demonstrated, but evidence points a linkage. The magnitude posed still debate. nature inherent difficulty make an important issue. Groundwater significant source both domestic use; 50 percent total population nearly 90 rural population. comprises 75-80 used irrigation.1 central issues possible effects. point universally agreed on protecting complex management challenge - must met effective policy coordination federal, state, local levels.3"5 Unfortunately, individual who can have greatest effect protection farmer often sent conflicting signals encourages high application