85 groups ask WHO to review nitrate limits in drinking water
The groups say current limits may not reflect research on long-term health risks.
Wednesday 4 November · 06:02 · 1 min read
In 30 seconds
- Eighty-five health and environmental organisations urged the World Health Organization to include nitrate in an upcoming review of drinking-water guidelines. [1] [1]
- The WHO guideline sets a maximum of 50 milligrams of nitrate per litre of drinking water, a limit dating to 1958. [1] [1]
- The groups cited research linking lower, long-term exposure to possible health risks, while a Danish expert panel recommended a lower limit of 6.0 milligrams per litre. [1] [1]
What happened
An open letter from 85 health and environmental organisations asked the World Health Organization to review its drinking-water guideline for nitrate. They said the current maximum, set in 1958, was designed to prevent a serious blood disorder in infants but did not account for newer evidence about long-term exposure. The groups pointed to possible links with colorectal cancer and harmful birth outcomes.
Why it matters
Many governments base drinking-water rules on WHO guidance, so a review could affect how they set limits. The source does not say that WHO has changed its standard or that Cambodia has adopted a new limit.
Background
Nitrate can remain in water as residue from intensive farming. The WHO guideline sets a maximum of 50 milligrams per litre as nitrate, or 11.3 milligrams per litre as nitrate-nitrogen; a Danish government expert panel recommended 6.0 milligrams per litre.
Key terms
- Nitrate
- A substance found in water and soil that can come from farming.
- Nitrate-nitrogen
- A way of measuring the nitrogen part of nitrate in water.
- Blue-baby syndrome
- A serious blood disorder that reduces the blood’s ability to carry oxygen.
Sources (1)
[1] Cambodianess WHO Urged To Review Drinking Water Standards Amid Nitrate Health Fears 3 Nov Read originalWas this explainer clear?
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