OCCURRENCE OF NITRATE AND NITRITE IN WATER AND SOME ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES IN NIGERIA

Contents of nitrate and nitrite in several sources of domestic water s upply, 8 branded lager beers, and only nitrate in palmwine is reported . Nitrate in water supplies varied from 0.23 mg/l in tap water to 50.0 mg/l in reservoir/stored water, and nitrite from 0.02 mg/l in stream water to 8.94 mg/l in well water. The results are compared to reported normal and lethal levels in drinking water. Nitrate in the beverages ranged from 22.5 mg/l in palmwine to 50.0 mg/l in beer, while nitrite in beer is between 0.26 and 9.53 mg/l. Levels of nitrate/nitrite in th is study are not considered hazardous but their toxic effects are summ arised.