Nitrates and Nitrites in Drinking Water: Headache Triggers

Nitrate is a water-soluble inorganic chemical. Nitrates, which are present in the environment, are usually found in the soil, seawater, freshwater and the air. However, it has been found that fertilizers, sewage and animal manure could all raise the nitrate levels in drinking water.

Nitrate into Nitrite

Nitrate is known to transform into nitrite, which is a dangerous substance. After eating something that contains nitrate, your saliva converts the nitrate into nitrite. About 10% of the nitrate can be converted into nitrite by adults, teenagers and older children. About 20% of nitrate can be converted into nitrite by babies. The bad news is that in babies, the nitrate is converted in the digestive system, making babies more at risk from the side effects of nitrite.

Effects of Nitrites

Nitrite mainly works on hemoglobin, which is the part of your blood that carries oxygen around your body. When nitrite is present in the body, it converts hemoglobin into a non-oxygen carrying substance called ‘methemoglobin’. As a result, the body is left with a lower concentration of oxygen, and this triggers headaches, breathlessness and lethargy.

Babies, particularly those under six months, are particularly at risk from the side effects of nitrite because:

- they can convert nitrates into nitrates at a much higher percentage;

- compared with adults, the hemoglobin in babies are easily converted into methemoglobin; and

- compared with adults, babies have less of the enzyme that convert methemoglobin back to hemoglobin.

If a baby's nitrite levels become high enough, it might develop a condition known as ‘blue baby syndrome’. It is important to note that boiling water that already has high nitrate levels won't do much because the nitrate concentration is going to be much higher after water evaporation.

Also at risk from nitrite's negative effects are pregnant women. This is because pregnant women tend to have higher methemoglobin levels during their final ten weeks of pregnancy. In addition, people with digestive problems due to low stomach acid can be at risk as well.

Rural Areas at Risk
In rural areas, nitrate fertilizers are widely used, increasing the probability of contaminating water sources.

Nitrate and Nitrites in Food

Although the amounts have been recently reduced, processed meats use nitrate and nitrite extensively as preservatives and color enhancers. Our primary source of nitrate comes from food, with the typical American consuming between 75 and 100 mg of nitrate daily. Foods containing nitrate include processed meats, ham, hot dogs, spinach, celery, beets, lettuce and root vegetables.

Vegetarians or people who tend to consume many vegetables can take in up to 250 mg of nitrate in a single day. Furthermore, our bodies make around 62 mg of nitrate a day, and will make even more nitrate if you are ill or have an infection.

Avoiding Nitrates and Nitrates

It is quite possible to avoid foods that contain nitrates. If test results show that your drinking water contains more than 10 mg of nitrate per liter, you should try the following:

- Avoid giving the water for babies to drink or use it to prepare their food.

- Avoid boiling the water as doing so will not lower the nitrate content.

- Avoid drinking the water if you are pregnant.

- If a baby's skin near the mouth, hands or feet becomes blue-tinged or gray, see a doctor immediately.

Amyl Nitrite

Amyl nitrite is another harmful form of nitrite, which is being used for recreation more and more. Amyl nitrite is mostly used for treating angina and other heart problems as it works to bring down the blood pressure by increasing the size of blood vessels. However, this increase in the size of blood vessels can cause the blood vessels in the brain to press on nerves, bringing on a severe headache.

For more help on the prevention, treatment and remedies for migraines please see the Complete Guide To Migraine Headaches.