The increase in these nutrients, particularly phosphates, is of environmental concernbecause excess nutrients can lead to “algal blooms” or eutrophication, as it is known,in lakes, ponds, estuaries, and very slow moving rivers. The algal bloom reduceslight penetration and restricts atmospheric reoxygenation of the water. When the densealgal growth dies, the subsequent biodegradation results in anaerobic conditions andthe death of many aquatic organisms. High phosphate concentrations and algal bloomsare generally not a problem in moving streams, because such streams are continuallyflushed out and algae do not accumulate.There are two potential adverse health effects from nitrates in drinking water:(1) nitrosamine formation and (2) methemoglobinemia. Ingested nitrates can be convertedto nitrites by intestinal bacteria. After entering the circulatory system, nitrite ionscombine with hemoglobin to form methemoglobin, thus decreasing the oxygen-carryingcapacity of the blood and resulting in anemia or blue-baby disease. It is particularlysevere in young babies who consume water and milk-formula prepared with nitrate-richwater. Older children and adults are able to detoxify the methemoglobin as a result ofthe enzyme methemoglobin reductase, which reverses the formation of methemoglobin.In infants, however, the enzyme is not fully functional. Certain nitrosamines are knowncarcinogens.
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