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Related Concept Videos

2° Amines to N-Nitrosamines: Reaction with NaNO201:20

2° Amines to N-Nitrosamines: Reaction with NaNO2

Secondary amines react with nitrous acid to form N-nitrosamines, as depicted in Figure 1. Nitrous acid, a weak and unstable acid, is formed in situ from an aqueous solution of sodium nitrite and strong acids, such as hydrochloric acid or sulfuric acid, in cold conditions. In the presence of an acid, the nitrous acid gets protonated. The subsequent loss of water results in the formation of the electrophile known as nitrosonium ion.
Nitric Oxide Signaling Pathway01:28

Nitric Oxide Signaling Pathway

Nitric oxide (NO), an inorganic gas, acts as a potent second messenger in most animal and plant tissues. NO diffuses out of the cells that produce it and enters the neighboring cells to generate a downstream response. NO synthase (NOS) catalyzes NO production by the deamination of the amino acid arginine. There are three isoforms of NOS. Endothelial cells have endothelial NOS (eNOS), nerve and muscle cells have neuronal NOS (nNOS), and macrophages produce inducible NOS (iNOS) upon exposure to...
Antianginal Drugs: Nitrates and β-Blockers01:16

Antianginal Drugs: Nitrates and β-Blockers

In cardiovascular health, antianginal drugs combat angina pectoris — a condition marked by chest pain owing to diminished blood flow to the heart.
Organic nitrates,  such as nitroglycerin, play a pivotal role. Once metabolized, they liberate nitric oxide, a molecular marvel. Nitric oxide triggers guanylyl cyclase and augments cGMP production. This biochemical cascade orchestrates the relaxation of vascular smooth muscles, ushering in vasodilation and enhancing coronary blood flow. Administered...
Toxicity Testing in Animals01:23

Toxicity Testing in Animals

Toxicity tests in animals are grounded on two main assumptions: first, the effects observed in laboratory animals can be extrapolated to humans, especially when adjusted for body surface area; second, high-dose exposure in animals is essential to identify potential human hazards from lower doses. This is based on the quantal dose-response concept, which faces the challenge of extrapolating results from relatively few test animals to much larger human populations. For example, a 0.01% incidence...
Overview of Nitrogen Metabolism01:20

Overview of Nitrogen Metabolism

Nitrogen is a very important element for life because it is a major constituent of proteins and nucleic acids. It is a macronutrient, and in nature, it is recycled from organic compounds and stored in the form of  ammonia, ammonium ions, nitrate, nitrite, or  nitrogen gas by many metabolic processes. Many of these metabolic processes are carried out only by prokaryotes.
The largest pool of nitrogen available in the terrestrial ecosystem is gaseous nitrogen (N2) from the air, but this nitrogen...
Types of Toxins01:36

Types of Toxins

Humans continually engage with an environment rich in potentially harmful chemicals. These are introduced to our bodies through inhalation, ingestion, or skin contact. These chemicals exist in various forms, such as air and environmental pollutants, agricultural chemicals, organic solvents, and heavy metals.
Air pollutants, primarily gases, pose significant threats to respiratory health, leading to conditions like hypoxia, lung cancer, and in extreme cases, death.
Environmental pollutants like...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 7, 2026

Preparation of Rat Skeletal Muscle Homogenates for Nitrate and Nitrite Measurements
07:19

Preparation of Rat Skeletal Muscle Homogenates for Nitrate and Nitrite Measurements

Published on: July 29, 2021

When does nitrate become a risk for humans?

David S Powlson1, Tom M Addiscott, Nigel Benjamin

  • 1Soil Science Dep, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Herts, UK.

Journal of Environmental Quality
|February 13, 2008
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Scientific debate continues regarding nitrate in drinking water. Current evidence is controversial, with some studies showing no clear health risks and potential benefits, while others highlight potential susceptibility in certain populations.

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Area of Science:

  • Environmental Science
  • Toxicology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Nitrate in drinking water is a subject of scientific controversy.
  • Concerns exist regarding potential links to infant methaemoglobinaemia and digestive tract cancers.
  • Emerging evidence suggests potential cardiovascular benefits and protection against infections.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the scientific justification for current nitrate concentration limits in drinking water.
  • To address the scientific disagreement on nitrate's health effects.
  • To determine if current limits can be safely raised.

Main Methods:

  • Review and interpretation of existing scientific evidence on nitrate exposure and human health.
  • Analysis of studies investigating nitrate's association with methaemoglobinaemia and cancer.
  • Consideration of emerging research on nitrate's potential benefits and risks.

Main Results:

  • Evidence linking nitrate in drinking water to infant methaemoglobinaemia and digestive cancers remains controversial.
  • Some studies indicate no clear association, while others suggest potential benefits for cardiovascular health and infection protection.
  • Certain population subgroups may exhibit increased susceptibility to adverse effects.

Conclusions:

  • There is a lack of scientific consensus on the health risks associated with current drinking water nitrate levels.
  • Further comprehensive and independent research is urgently needed.
  • The scientific basis for current nitrate limits requires re-evaluation to determine if they can be safely increased.