Infantile methemoglobinemia: Reexamining the role of drinking water nitrates

Avery, A A

doi:10.1289/ehp.99107583

Cited by 218Methemoglobinemia and Tumor Lysis SyndromeWater Treatment and DisinfectionPublic Health and Environmental Issues

Infantile methemoglobinemia: Reexamining the role of drinking water nitrates

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Avery, A A·1999·Environmental Health Perspectives

DOI 10.1289/ehp.99107583

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Abstract

Ingestion of nitrates in drinking water has long been thought to be a primary cause of acquired infantile methemoglobinemia, often called blue baby syndrome. However, recent research and a review of historical cases offer a more complex picture of the causes of infantile methemoglobinemia. Gastrointestinal infection and inflammation and the ensuing overproduction of nitric oxide may be the cause of many cases of infantile methemoglobinemia previously attributed to drinking water nitrates. If so, current limits on allowable levels of nitrates in drinking water, which are based solely on the health threat of infantile methemoglobinemia, may be unnecessarily strict.

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Methemoglobinemia per se was not caused by nitrate itself, but by fecal bacteria that infected infants and produced NO in their gut.
“it is now thought that methemoglobinemia per se was not caused by nitrate itself, but by fecal bacteria that infected infants and produced NO in their gut.”
From NO-Rich Diet for Lifestyle-Related Diseases (2015) · cites this paper as [43]
It is unlikely that nitrate causes methemoglobinemia without bacterial contamination, and the 40-50 mg/L limit on nitrate in drinking water is not necessary.
“A recent report by Avery has argued that it is unlikely that nitrate causes methemoglobinemia without bacterial contamination, and also that the 40–50 mg/L limit on nitrate in drinking water is not necessary [43].”
From NO-Rich Diet for Lifestyle-Related Diseases (2015) · cites this paper as [43]

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Authors: Avery, A. A.
Affiliations: Hudson Institute (US)
Corresponding author: Avery, A A
Venue: Environmental Health Perspectives
Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)
Published: 1999-07
Volume: 107
Issue: 7
Pages: 583-586
ISSN: 0091-6765 (ISSN-L)
1552-9924
DOI: 10.1289/ehp.99107583
OpenAlex: W2015001323
Cited by: 218
References: 34
Citations by year: 2026: 3 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 21 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 18 · 2014: 13 · 2013: 17 · 2012: 6
FWCI: 5.76
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: gold
doi.org
Licence: public-domain
Locations: Environmental Health Perspectives (publishedVersion, public-domain)
Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics: Health Sciences › Medicine › Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine › Methemoglobinemia and Tumor Lysis Syndrome
Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Water Treatment and Disinfection
Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Public Health and Environmental Issues
Keywords: blue baby syndrome, drinking water nitrate, nitric oxide, gastrointestinal infections, nitrate ingestion
MeSH terms: Diarrhea, Infantile, Humans, Infant, Infant, Newborn, Methemoglobinemia, Nitrates, Water Pollutants, Chemical, Water Supply

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Infantile methemoglobinemia: Reexamining the role of drinking water nitrates

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