Nitrat und die menschliche Gesundheit.
1986
Juergens Gschwind S. | Owen T.R.
Humans take in nitrates with their food, the main sources being vegetarian foods, milk products and drinking water. Nitrates are also synthesized endogenously. In an environment low in oxygen, nitrites can be formed from body sources and under certain conditions they can block the transport of oxygen in the blood and/or together with amines produce carcinogenic nitrosamines. For this reason, there has been some speculation that nitrates may possibly be harmful to human health. Recent studies in the Federal Republic of Germany and Israel have, however, ruled out any correlation between methaemoglobinaemia and the uptake of nitrates in food and drinking water. Nor is there any evidence of a direct connection between high-nitrate drinking water or nitrogen fertilizers and the occurence of cancer in humans. The recent directive by the European Community (80/778/EEC) to reduce the limit for nitrates in drinking water from 90 to 50 mg/l seems extremely strict in the light of this level of medical knowledge. In view of the difficulties that will arise for some waterworks, experts are wondering whether such a drastic reduction is necessary.
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