With respect to Water Pollution, Cause and Effects of Nitrate

Cause:
Nitrate (NO3) comes into water supplies through the nitrogen cycle rather than via dissolved minerals. It is one of the major ions in natural waters. Most nitrate that occurs in drinking water is the result of contamination of ground water supplies by septic systems, feed lots, and agricultural fertilizers. Nitrate is reduced to nitrite in the body. The US EPA's MCL for nitrate is 10 mg/l.


Effects:
Nitrates cause methemoglobenemia in infants, a potentially lethal form of anemia that is also called blue baby syndrome.