The Truth About Nitrates: Fertilizers, Food, and a Hidden Danger

 The Truth About Nitrates: Fertilizers, Food, and a Hidden Danger


Nitrates (NO3-) are omnipresent; they are anywhere you look, be it your food, the chemicals you feed your soil with, or the crackers and sparklers you enjoy. So, are they beneficial, harmful, or a bit of both? Let's take a close look at nitrates and learn what they are!


What Are Nitrates?

Nitrates are the compounds that contain oxygen and nitrogen. Their favorite growth nutrients are plants. For this reason, farmers use a kind of fertilizer that contains nitrates in the soil to enhance their yields. Nitrates are not only soil and fertilizers, their function is also in processed meats such as bacon and hot dogs, where they stop bacteria from reproducing while keeping the meat fresh-looking. Some of the leafy green vegetables, for instance, spinach and lettuce, on the other hand, are also natural sources of nitrates!


Are Nitrates Dangerous?

Nitrates alone are not harmful, but they become nitrites in the human body and that is when issues are emerging. Nitrites can block blood oxygen, and this can be dire to babies (causing a disease called blue baby syndrome). Such chemicals might also be involved in the creation of potentially harmful substances, which, when eating along with proteins in processed meats, might increase the risk of cancer.


The Environmental Problem

Excessive nitrates in the fertilizers are not confined to the soil as well. They get into the rivers and lakes, provoking gigantic algae formations that smother out fish and other inhabitants. This heavy pollution makes it a worldwide problem.


Should We Avoid Nitrates?

Not always! Although additives are important for growing crops, natural methods such as organic fertilizers and natural preservatives are researched by scientists that would do the same with a reduced risk. 


The Big Question

What are some ways by which the advantages of nitrates can be compared to their disadvantages? This is a topic loved by people including scientists, farmers, and health experts. What do you think—must nitrates be regulated more or maybe they should be left alone because they are the basic source of some nutrients?


References:

Spector, D. (2019, September 6). *Nitrates in deli meat: Dangerous food labels and cancer claims don’t tell the whole story*. Genetic Literacy Project. https://geneticliteracyproject.org/2019/09/06/nitrates-in-deli-meat-dangerous-food-labels-and-cancer-claims-dont-tell-the-whole-story/


Minnesota Department of Health. (n.d.). Nitrate in drinking water. Retrieved from https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/water/contaminants/nitrate.html


U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.). Nitrate: Health effects in drinking water. Retrieved from https://archive.epa.gov/water/archive/web/html/vms57.html


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