Nitrates are particularly harmful to human health because of the reduction to
nitrite which takes place in humans. Long term effects arise from reaction of nitrites with certain substrates such as
amines, amides, and amino acids to produce N-nitroso compounds, which have been
found in numerous animal studies to be carcinogenic. Due to this factor, nitrate and
nitrite are regulated by the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) (maximum allowable levels are 10ppm and 1ppm,
respectively) due to their common occurrence as constituents in drinking water. The
analysis of these compounds is a routine analytical procedure in most water laboratories.
The standard method for the determination of nitrate in drinking water, USEPA Method
353.2 "Determination of Nitrate-Nitrite by Automated Colorimetry," employs cadmium
as the reductant for the conversion of nitrate to nitrite. The nitrite is then analyzed
colorimetrically by way of the Griess reaction. This procedure is not only tedious, but the
byproducts of the cadmium column are hazardous to the environment. Once cadmium is
introduced to the soil, plants uptake the cadmium, and then, via the food chain, the
exposure is passed upward towards humans. The objective is to find an alternative by use
of Superior Stock Nitrate Reductase or YNaR1 (The Nitrate Elimination Co. of Lake
Linden, Michigan). This enzyme, a natural reductant, combined with NADH, can replace
the cadmium column reduction, thus eliminating the need to dispose of toxic cadmium
waste. Includes 3 references, table, figures.
| Edition : | Vol. - No. |
| File Size : | 1
file
, 140 KB |
| Note : | This product is unavailable in Ukraine, Russia, Belarus |
| Number of Pages : | 4 |
| Published : | 11/01/2007 |
