(GIST OF SCIENCE REPORTER) Nitrate

(DECEMBER-2025)

Nitrate

According to a submission by Central Groundwater Board, over 20% of groundwater samples collected in Delhi in 2023 had nitrate levels exceeding the permissible limit of 45 mg/l.

About Nitrate:

It is a compound of nitrogen and oxygen.
It is naturally found in air, soil and water.
Plants and animals require nitrates for their survival and growth, and the human body also produces this compound.

Applications of Nitrate:

In industry, nitrate is used as fertilizers for crops and lawns.
It is used in food preservation, certain pharmaceutical medications, as well as the manufacture of munitions and explosives.

Impact of Nitrate Contamination:

It gets into water from fertilizer in runoff, manure from animal feeding operations and wastewater treatment plant discharge.
Health: Excessive nitrate in groundwater causes methemoglobinemia, reducing the ability of red blood cells to carry oxygen, particularly affecting infants and vulnerable populations.
Environment: Elevated nitrate levels in groundwater can lead to algal blooms in lakes and ponds, severely degrading aquatic ecosystems by depleting oxygen and harming biodiversity.