The contamination of drinking water with nitrates, used in fertilizers for crops, poses health risks to infants, even when the exposure is far lower than permissible levels, according to a June 25 peer-reviewed study published in the PLOS Water journal.
Nitrate is a naturally occurring compound used in inorganic fertilizers. It seeps into groundwater and is eventually consumed by humans. When a person ingests nitrates, the compound can interfere with the blood’s capacity to carry oxygen, a situation that can be fatal among children.
