Investigating Nitrate and Nitrite Concentrations in Drinking Water of Five Districts in Tehran and Assessing the Presence of Nitrate Reducing Bacteria

Abstract

High levels of nitrate and nitrite in groundwater lead into environmental issues and nitrate poisoning causes unpleasant consequences in human bodies. The present study was conducted to evaluate the concentration of nitrate, nitrite, and nitrate-reducing bacteria in treated drinking water in five areas in Tehran using optical spectroscopy. The results of one-way ANOVA showed that the average concentrations of nitrate in summer and autumn are significantly higher than those of nitrite. Moreover, the highest mean of concentration of nitrate and nitrate was observed in the west of Tehran in autumn 2016 (1.2±0.01 and 4.6±0.02 mg. L^-1). On the other hand, the lowest mean was found in the south of Tehran (0.06±0.02 and 0.001±0.01 mg. L^-1). However, only in the southern region of Tehran, signs of Pasteurella sp. and Acinetobacter sp. were observed. Additionally, the results of the Duncan test indicated no significant differences concerning nitrate concentration in the morning, noon, and at night in the southern, eastern, and central regions in autumn and summer. The samples of the north, east, and center had the lowest risk and, in the west, and south of Tehran, the highest risk and adverse effects of nitrite and nitrate were observed. Although the average concentration of nitrate and nitrite in all these areas, except for the west of Tehran, was less than the standard of the WHO and the latest national standard, protection of groundwater resources against the entry of pollutants treatment networks to prevent the increase of these ions in water seems to be necessary.