Testing Drinking Water for Nitrates

Paper Summary:

The paper explains that many parts of the world have experienced elevated levels of nitrates in their drinking water by virtue of past industrial and agricultural practices. The paper provides a review of the relevant literature to determine the effects of nitrates in drinking water sources and examines what types of testing are typically done to assess the presence of nitrates, in particular in New Jersey. The paper discusses current and future trends in this area. The paper concludes that elevated levels of nitrates in drinking water supplies can result in profound adverse health consequences. People around the world are using their groundwater resources faster than they are being naturally replenished and this has caused further concentrations of any pollutants that might be present.

Outline:
Introduction
Review and Discussion
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"In a day and age characterized by debates over oil and potential future energy sources, an important fact is being overlooked. By all accounts, fresh water is far more important than oil and people had better pay closer attention to what is happening to their drinking water sources today. According to Roberts (2001), "Water use in the United States averages about 100 gallons of drinking water per person per day, more than just about any other country. A very small proportion of this water per person, approximately two gallons, is actually used for drinking and cooking. We use the majority of the water that comes into our homes for bathing, flushing toilets, doing laundry, watering lawns, filling swimming pools, and washing cars" (p. 64). Throughout the world, people obtain their drinking water from a wide range of sources, and these same techniques are used in the United States."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Albering, H. J., Ambergen, A. W., Curfs, D. M., De Kok, T. M., Kleinjans, J. C., Reeser, H. R., Van Breda, G. J., Van Maanen, J. M., Vermeer, I. T., & Wolffenbuttel, B. H. (2000). Does the risk of childhood diabetes mellitus require revision of the guideline values for nitrate in drinking water? Environmental Health Perspectives, 108(5), 457.
• Bassin, J. K., Gupta, A. B., Gupta, A., Gupta, R. C., Gupta, S. N., & Seth, A. K. (2000). Recurrent acute respiratory tract infections in areas with high nitrate concentrations in drinking water. Environmental Health Perspectives, 108(4), 363.
• Brender, J., Dekok, T. M., Gulis, G., Levallois, P., Nolan, B. T., Vanderslice, J., & Ward, M. H. (2005). Workgroup report: Drinking-water nitrate and health- Recent findings and research needs. Environmental Health Perspectives, 113(11), 1607.
• Fewtrell, L. (2004). Drinking-water nitrate, methemoglobinemia, and global burden of disease: A discussion. Environmental Health Perspectives, 112(14), 1371.
• Freedman, D. F., Cantor, K. P., Ward, M. H., & Helzlsouer, K. (2000). Nitrates in drinking water and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: a population-based case-control study of men in Minnesota. Archives of Environmental Health, 55, 326-29.

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