Blue Baby Syndrome
Blue Baby Syndrome Did you know that when nitrates interact with the hemoglobin in red blood cells turns the hemoglobin; which carries oxygen, forms a new substance called methemoglobin. Methemoglobin can’t carry sufficient oxygen to the body 's cells and tissues. This doesn’t seem to be a problem in adults, but when it comes to infants it seems to be a problem. I am strongly persuaded that nitrate in well water has to deal with blue baby syndrome. According to two cases on Environmental Health Perspectives, two babies were brought in to the emergency room. One baby’s face started to turn gray and been crabbier than usual; the other baby’s parents stated there baby turned “completely blue” and also had some troubles breathing. The emergency nurses noted that “that the infant was dehydrated, dusky, and cold to the touch.” The thing that both of these babies had in common was that there bottles and foods were made using well water. But when they both were on bottled water they were completely healthy. Now explain that? You can’t! How can you protect your drinking water from being contaminated with nitrates? If you well is in a bad spot, you will have to relocate it up hill at least 100 ft away from feedlots, septic systems, barnyards and chemical storage facilities. Then make sure that you properly seal or cap the abandoned well. You also can purify the water by using distillation, reverse osmosis, or Ion-exchange. Distillation you would start by boiling the water, which catches the resulting steam, and condenses the steam on a cold surface (a condenser). Then nitrates and other minerals remain behind in the boiling tank. Reverse osmosis forces water under pressure through a membrane that filters out minerals and nitrate. One-half to two-thirds of the water remains behind the membrane as rejected water. Higher-yield systems use water pressures of 150 psi (pounds per square inch). There’s also Ion-exchange; in this it would take another substance, such as
Cited: Date, Publication. "Environmental Health Perspectives: Blue Babies and Nitrate-Contaminated Well Water." Environmental Health Perspectives: Monthly Journal of Peer-Reviewed Research and News on the Impact of the Environment on Human Health. Web. 16 Mar. 2011. . "NITRATES AND DRINKING WATER." Benton Franklin Health District Home Page. Web. 16 Mar. 2011. . "NITRATES AND DRINKING WATER." Benton Franklin Health District Home Page. Web. 16 Mar. 2011. .