High nitrate levels in drinking water cause blue baby syndrome and have been linked to cancer in adults. The EPA sets a standard concentration of less than 10 ppm in drinking water. Nitrates in drinking water can occur from fertilizer runoff, leaking of septic tanks, and erosion of natural deposits. Data was collected every 2 weeks for a 5 month period, and samples were from wells and surrounding bodies of water in a rural farming community with a history of naturally high nitrate levels. A spectrometer and Beers Law were used for analysis of samples. The well water and nearby stream contained nitrate levels as high as 32 ppm while the Mississippi river and a pond contained lower nitrate levels of 5 ppm.

Determination of nitrate concentration in private wells and surrounding bodies of water

245th National Meeting (2013)

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