Water Sanitation and Health (WSH)

Chemical hazards in drinking water - nitrates/nitrites

Nitrates and nitrites are considered in the WHO Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality. You can link from here to:

The Guidelines for drinking-water quality also consider for individual chemicals:

Rolling revision of the WHO Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality

Nitrates/nitrite are included in the plan of work of the rolling revision of the WHO Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality.

Background

The Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality Working Group meeting (Geneva, 2005) identified the need for a fact sheet or expanded summary statement with additional information on management issues related to nitrate/nitrite.

Expected end-product(s)

Expanded summary statement for Volume 1 for second addendum of third edition (as for arsenic and fluoride).

Progress to date

The Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality Working Group meeting (Geneva, 2005) agreed to place nitrate/nitrite on the rolling revision and developed a plan of work.

Other publications of interest

In preparation

  • Chemical safety of drinking-water: Assessing priorities for risk management
  • Managing surface waters for health
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