The Studies on Nitrate-Nitrite Accumulation and Health Concerns

Currently, the rapid increase in population has become a driven force of the increase in yield and quality of plant production. Recently, excessive application of nitrogen fertilizers is main way to increase plant production, but leads to the accumulation of nitrate-nitrite in plants. The plants, especially leafy vegetables, can accumulate high levels of nitrate and, upon being consumed by living beings, pose serious health hazards. The nitrate intake from vegetables or other food items is reduced to nitrite and cause toxicity known as methemoglobinemia especially in children and carninogenesis (tumors in liver, lung, kidney, stomach cancer), as result of the formation of nitrosamines. High level of nitrate when converted to nitrite cause blue baby syndrome".