Blue Baby Syndrome- Once nitrates get into ground water, the greatest concerns are for infants less than one year old and for young or pregnant animals.The most common symptom of nitrate poisoning in babies is a bluish color to the skin, particularly around the baby's eyes and mouth. These symptoms of nitrate toxicity are commonly referred to as the"blue-baby" syndrome.

High levels of nitrates can be toxic to newborns, causing anoxia, or internal suffocation. Seek alternative water sources if nitrate levels exceed the health standard of 10 ppm nitrate-nitrogen.

You're on the right track!

Go to the resources below to learn more about how nitrates in water can affect babies, and other living things, both for better, and for worse.

National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program

This is part of the United States Geological Survey (USGS)
-be sure to check out other links concerning water from those on this page

Go to Resources for more informational links

||| Standards Home | Activity | Resources | Teacher| Team page | How did you do? |Show your stuff