NITRATES: HUMAN HEALTH EFFECTS

It is nearly impossible for individuals to see, taste, or smell nitrates, which makes consuming contaminated drinking water even more of a hazard. When water is consumed with concentrations of nitrates above ten milligrams per liter, it can lead to immediate health problems. Nitrates can affect how the blood carries oxygen, and studies have shown how they can turn hemoglobin, which is the protein in blood that carries oxygen, into methemoglobin. 

High levels of methemoglobin can turn skin to a bluish or gray color, and can result in weakness, excess heart rate, fatigue, and dizziness. Additionally, if nitrates are broken down by the gut biome from nitrate into nitrite, this can result in severe health complications, including increased risk of cancer.