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The DOI matches its Crossref record; 39 of the 39 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Drinking-Water Nitrate, Methemoglobinemia, and Global Burden of Disease: A Discussion

Open access
Fewtrell, Lorna·2004·Environmental Health Perspectives

Abstract

On behalf of the World Health Organization (WHO), I have undertaken a series of literature-based investigations examining the global burden of disease related to a number of environmental risk factors associated with drinking water. In this article I outline the investigation of drinking-water nitrate concentration and methemoglobinemia. The exposure assessment was based on levels of nitrate in drinking water greater than the WHO guideline value of 50 mg/L. No exposure-response relationship, however, could be identified that related drinking-water nitrate level to methemoglobinemia. Indeed, although it has previously been accepted that consumption of drinking water high in nitrates causes methemoglobinemia in infants, it appears now that nitrate may be one of a number of co-factors that play a sometimes complex role in causing the disease. I conclude that, given the apparently low incidence of possible water-related methemoglobinemia, the complex nature of the role of nitrates, and that of individual behavior, it is currently inappropriate to attempt to link illness rates with drinking-water nitrate levels.

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Show all 39 references

Research works printed but not linked: 9

  1. Danish, 1983, Methemoglobinemia in infants with enteritis [Letter], J Pediatr, 102, 162, 10.1016/S0022-3476(83)80325-4 · doi:10.1016/s0022-3476(83)80325-4
  2. Fewtrell, 1998, The microbiological quality of private water supplies, J Chartered Inst Water Environ Manag, 12, 98, 10.1111/j.1747-6593.1998.tb00156.x · doi:10.1111/j.1747-6593.1998.tb00156.x
  3. Kozliuk, 1989, Immunological status of children living in a region with an increased level of nitrates in the drinking water, Gig Sanit, 54, 19
  4. Malberg, 1978, Nitrates in drinking water and the early onset of hypertension, Environ Pollut, 15, 155, 10.1016/0013-9327(78)90103-9 · doi:10.1016/0013-9327(78)90103-9
  5. Morton, 1971, Hypertension and drinking water constituents in Colorado, Am J Public Health, 61, 1371, 10.2105/AJPH.61.7.1371 · doi:10.2105/ajph.61.7.1371
  6. Schubert, 1999, Public response to elevated nitrate in drinking water wells in Wisconsin, Arch Environ Health, 54, 242, 10.1080/00039899909602481 · doi:10.1080/00039899909602481
  7. Tandia, 2000, Nitrate pollution study in the aquifer of Dakar (Senegal), Schriftenr Ver Wasser Boden Lufthyg, 105, 191
  8. Vitoria Minana, 1991, Nitrates in drinking water in the Valencia community. Indirect risk of methemoglobinemia in infants, An Esp Pediatr, 34, 43
  9. Young, 1980, A hydrogeological survey of chalk groundwater of the Banstead area, Surrey, with particular reference to nitrate, J Inst Water Eng Sci, 34, 213

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Metadata

Authors
Fewtrell, L.
Venue
Environmental Health Perspectives
Published
2004-10
Volume
112
Issue
14
Pages
1371-1374
ISSN
  • 0091-6765 (ISSN-L)
  • 1552-9924
OpenAlex
W2045507079
Cited by
649
References
39
FWCI
6.28
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
gold

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Fewtrell, L. (2004). Drinking-Water Nitrate, Methemoglobinemia, and Global Burden of Disease: A Discussion. Environmental Health Perspectives. https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.7216

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