WHO urged to revise standards for nitrate levels in drinking water

Why in News?

Several global health and environmental organisations have urged the World Health Organization (WHO) to revise its decades-old drinking-water standards for nitrate, arguing that they do not adequately reflect recent scientific evidence about potential long-term health risks.

Existing WHO Guidelines

• The WHO’s current guideline sets the maximum acceptable nitrate concentration in drinking water at:
  • 50 mg/L as nitrate (NO₃⁻), or
  • 11.3 mg/L as nitrate-nitrogen (NO₃-N).
• The guideline dates back to 1958.
• It was primarily designed to prevent blue-baby syndrome (methaemoglobinaemia), a potentially fatal condition in which the blood’s oxygen-carrying capacity is reduced.

What is Nitrate?

• Nitrate (NO₃⁻) is a naturally occurring nitrogen compound found in soil, water and plants.
• It is an important nutrient for plant growth and is widely used in agricultural fertilisers.
• Excessive nitrate contamination of water is often associated with agricultural activities and inadequate waste management.

Sources of Nitrate Contamination

• Runoff and leakage from fertilised agricultural soil.
• Wastewater discharge.
• Landfills.
• Animal feedlots.
• Septic systems.
• Urban drainage.

Natural occurrence: Drinking water generally contains low nitrate concentrations, usually below 3 mg/L, due to natural processes.

Potential Health Risks

• Blue-baby syndrome: High nitrate exposure can cause methaemoglobinaemia, particularly in infants, reducing the blood’s ability to transport oxygen.
• Colorectal cancer: Recent epidemiological studies have raised concerns about a possible association between chronic, low-level nitrate exposure and colorectal cancer.
• Adverse birth outcomes: Long-term exposure has also been associated in some studies with adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes.

Source: TH

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