Review article

NITRATES AND NITRITES, METABOLISM AND TOXICITY

Marija Nujić orcid.org/0000-0002-1600-6971 ; Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Faculty of Food Technology Osijek, F. Kuhača 20, 31000 Osijek, Croatia
Mirna Habuda-Stanić orcid.org/0000-0002-0089-9488 ; Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Faculty of Food Technology Osijek, F. Kuhača 20, 31000 Osijek, Croatia

Abstract

Nitrates naturally occur in the environment and are involved in the nitrogen cycle. Nitrates and nitrites
are chemical compounds used in fertilizers, rodenticides and as food preservatives. They can be
found in the air, soil, water and food (especially in vegetables) and can be synthesized in the human
body. Nitrates play a significant role in the diet and metabolism of plants. Nitrates are formed by oxidation
of organic waste by the action of nitrogen-binding bacteria. Humans are exposed to nitrates
and nitrites via consumption of vegetables and processed meat products, and to a lesser extent via water
and other food. Consumption of drinking water with an increased concentration of nitrate may affect
the human body in two ways: (i) acutely, most often manifested as methemoglobinemia (where
nitrates in the digestive system are reduced to nitrites, which then oxidize iron in the hemoglobin of
the red blood cells forming methemoglobin unable to transmit oxygen in the body), resulting in blue
skin, and (ii) chronic, manifested by the occurrence of cancer as a result of organism exposure to nitrosamines
(formed during the reaction of nitrates with amines in the body).

Keywords

Hrčak ID:

198897

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/198897

Publication date:

31.12.2017.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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