Agricultural bacteria, fertilizers and manure that is distributed throughout fields causes a rise in the groundwater’s concentration that exceeds the max containment level for intake. These excess levels of nitrate found in water are extremely hard on the human body, and can be lethal in infants (Holme). Mixing water with formula to feed a baby is a perfect example of how nitrites can enter an infant’s immature digestive system.
In 1999, a 3-week old in Wisconsin suffered from methaemoglobinaemia, also known as “blue baby disease”. This disease was caused by high levels of nitrates in the family’s well water (Golden). When nitrates (converted to nitrite) are in the digestive system, they interact with the iron compound, hemoglobin, which carries oxygen. When nitrite enters the body, hemoglobin in the blood converts to methemoglobin, which can’t bind to oxygen. Therefore, most of the 3-week old’s red blood cells lose their ability to carry oxygen (Golden). In adults, the enzyme Met-Hgb can reverse the process of nitrite interacting with myoglobin, but there are lower …show more content…
Mothers who choose to breastfeed put their infants at a lower risk of becoming sick from methaemoglobinaemia. Even though adults are less susceptible to nitrates, if mothers consume a large quantity of water that isn’t potable, it can get in the breast milk. If bottled formula is the choice of feeding used, using water that has been tested for nitrates and contains low amounts of it to mix with powdered formula is okay. However, when Fe2+ goes through oxidation to produce Fe3+ and NO3- reduces to NO2- , methemoglobin is created. In order to minimize these reactions, its important to keep formula that has been mixed refrigerated and put to use punctually. Lastly, vegetables are high in nitrates and can be hard on the infant’s immature digestive system, so restricting consumption of vegetables until their digestive tract has grown is crucial
In 1999, a 3-week old in Wisconsin suffered from methaemoglobinaemia, also known as “blue baby disease”. This disease was caused by high levels of nitrates in the family’s well water (Golden). When nitrates (converted to nitrite) are in the digestive system, they interact with the iron compound, hemoglobin, which carries oxygen. When nitrite enters the body, hemoglobin in the blood converts to methemoglobin, which can’t bind to oxygen. Therefore, most of the 3-week old’s red blood cells lose their ability to carry oxygen (Golden). In adults, the enzyme Met-Hgb can reverse the process of nitrite interacting with myoglobin, but there are lower …show more content…
Mothers who choose to breastfeed put their infants at a lower risk of becoming sick from methaemoglobinaemia. Even though adults are less susceptible to nitrates, if mothers consume a large quantity of water that isn’t potable, it can get in the breast milk. If bottled formula is the choice of feeding used, using water that has been tested for nitrates and contains low amounts of it to mix with powdered formula is okay. However, when Fe2+ goes through oxidation to produce Fe3+ and NO3- reduces to NO2- , methemoglobin is created. In order to minimize these reactions, its important to keep formula that has been mixed refrigerated and put to use punctually. Lastly, vegetables are high in nitrates and can be hard on the infant’s immature digestive system, so restricting consumption of vegetables until their digestive tract has grown is crucial