Determination Of Nitrate And Nitrite Levels In Drinking Water Of Minerals And Demineral Packaging By Visible Light Spectrophotometry

Feb 27, 2025 by ADMIN 133 views

Introduction

The intake of nitrite and nitrate is a significant concern for public health, as these substances can have adverse effects on human health. The primary sources of nitrite and nitrate intake are food, particularly vegetables, and drinking water. With the increasing availability of packaged drinking water, it is essential to monitor the levels of nitrite and nitrate in these products to ensure public health safety. The maximum limits of nitrite and nitrate in drinking water are set by the Minister of Health Regulation (Permenkes) No. 492/Menkes/Per/IV/2010 and SNI 3553: 2015, which regulate mineral water. This study aims to determine the levels of nitrate and nitrite in the sample of drinking water and demineral packaging water circulating in the community.

Background

Drinking water can be obtained in various forms, including packaged water from supermarkets or refill units. The quality of drinking water is crucial for public health, and the presence of nitrite and nitrate can pose potential hazards. Nitrite and nitrate are commonly found in vegetables, but they can also be present in drinking water. The maximum limits of nitrite and nitrate in drinking water are set at 3 mg/l and 50 mg/l, respectively, according to Permenkes No. 492/MENKES/PER/IV/2010. Additionally, SNI 3553: 2015, which regulates mineral water, sets the maximum level of nitrite and nitrate at 0.1 mg/l and 44 mg/l, respectively.

Methodology

This study involved collecting water samples from various brands of bottled water, including Aqua, Indomaret, Amoz, Bag, Cleanq, Nestle, Le Minerale, and Demineral Water such as Rivero, Amidis, Cleo, Super O2, and Airox. The determination of nitrite levels was carried out using N-(1-naphtil) ethylendiamine reagent dihydrochloride at a maximum wavelength of 540 nm. To determine the level of nitrate, a reduction in nitrates to nitrite using zinc powder in the hydrochloric acid solution was employed. The method used for determining the levels of nitrate and nitrite is the spectrophotometry of visible light.

Results

The results of this study showed that the levels of nitrite in mineral water ranged from 0.0057 mg/l to 0.0203 mg/L, while the levels of nitrate ranged from 0.0513 mg/L to 1,3877 mg/L. In demineral water, the levels of nitrite were not detected, but the levels of nitrate ranged from 0.0108 mg/l to 0.0973 mg/L.

Discussion

The results of this study indicate that the levels of nitrite and nitrate measured in drinking water of mineral and demineral packaging do not exceed the maximum limit specified in Permenkes No. 492/MENKES/PER/IV/2010 and SNI 3553: 2015. The determination of nitrate and nitrite content is essential to ensure the quality of drinking water that is safe for public health. The existence of periodic quality and monitoring control is necessary to prevent the potential hazards that can be caused by these substances in drinking water that is consumed daily.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this study highlights the importance of monitoring the levels of nitrite and nitrate in drinking water to ensure public health safety. The results of this study show that the levels of nitrite and nitrate in drinking water of mineral and demineral packaging do not exceed the maximum limit specified in Permenkes No. 492/MENKES/PER/IV/2010 and SNI 3553: 2015. It is essential to implement periodic quality and monitoring control to prevent the potential hazards that can be caused by these substances in drinking water that is consumed daily.

Recommendations

Based on the results of this study, the following recommendations are made:

Regular monitoring of nitrite and nitrate levels in drinking water is essential to ensure public health safety.
The implementation of periodic quality and monitoring control is necessary to prevent the potential hazards that can be caused by these substances in drinking water that is consumed daily.
The community should be more selective in choosing quality drinking water sources and meeting the established health standards.

Limitations

This study has several limitations, including:

The sample size was limited to a few brands of bottled water and demineral water.
The study only measured the levels of nitrite and nitrate in drinking water and did not consider other potential contaminants.
The study did not investigate the potential health effects of nitrite and nitrate in drinking water.

Future Directions

Future studies should aim to:

Increase the sample size to include a wider range of bottled water and demineral water brands.
Investigate the potential health effects of nitrite and nitrate in drinking water.
Consider other potential contaminants in drinking water.

Conclusion

Q: What are nitrite and nitrate, and why are they a concern in drinking water?

A: Nitrite and nitrate are substances that can be present in drinking water. They can come from natural sources, such as soil and rocks, or from human activities, such as agriculture and industrial processes. High levels of nitrite and nitrate in drinking water can pose potential health risks, including cancer and neurological damage.

Q: What are the maximum limits of nitrite and nitrate in drinking water?

A: According to Permenkes No. 492/MENKES/PER/IV/2010 and SNI 3553: 2015, the maximum limits of nitrite and nitrate in drinking water are set at 3 mg/l and 50 mg/l, respectively.

Q: How are nitrite and nitrate levels determined in drinking water?

A: The determination of nitrite and nitrate levels in drinking water is typically carried out using spectrophotometry, a laboratory technique that measures the amount of light absorbed by a substance. In this study, the spectrophotometry of visible light was used to determine the levels of nitrite and nitrate in drinking water.

Q: What are the potential health effects of nitrite and nitrate in drinking water?

A: High levels of nitrite and nitrate in drinking water can pose potential health risks, including cancer and neurological damage. Long-term exposure to high levels of nitrite and nitrate can also lead to other health problems, such as anemia and respiratory problems.

Q: How can I ensure that my drinking water is safe from nitrite and nitrate?

A: To ensure that your drinking water is safe from nitrite and nitrate, you can take the following steps:

Regularly check the levels of nitrite and nitrate in your drinking water.
Use a water filter that is certified to remove nitrite and nitrate.
Choose a drinking water source that is known to have low levels of nitrite and nitrate.
Consider using a home water treatment system that can remove nitrite and nitrate.

Q: What are the benefits of monitoring nitrite and nitrate levels in drinking water?

A: Monitoring nitrite and nitrate levels in drinking water can help to ensure public health safety. It can also help to prevent potential health problems associated with high levels of nitrite and nitrate in drinking water.

Q: How can I get involved in monitoring nitrite and nitrate levels in drinking water?

A: If you are interested in getting involved in monitoring nitrite and nitrate levels in drinking water, you can:

Contact your local water utility or public health department to see if they have a program for monitoring nitrite and nitrate levels in drinking water.
Consider volunteering with a local organization that is involved in monitoring nitrite and nitrate levels in drinking water.
Support policies and initiatives that promote the monitoring of nitrite and nitrate levels in drinking water.

Q: What are the limitations of this study?

A: This study has several limitations, including:

The sample size was limited to a few brands of bottled water and demineral water.
The study only measured the levels of nitrite and nitrate in drinking water and did not consider other potential contaminants.
The study did not investigate the potential health effects of nitrite and nitrate in drinking water.

Q: What are the future directions for this research?

A: Future studies should aim to:

Increase the sample size to include a wider range of bottled water and demineral water brands.
Investigate the potential health effects of nitrite and nitrate in drinking water.
Consider other potential contaminants in drinking water.

Q: What are the implications of this study for public health?

A: This study highlights the importance of monitoring the levels of nitrite and nitrate in drinking water to ensure public health safety. The results of this study show that the levels of nitrite and nitrate in drinking water of mineral and demineral packaging do not exceed the maximum limit specified in Permenkes No. 492/MENKES/PER/IV/2010 and SNI 3553: 2015. It is essential to implement periodic quality and monitoring control to prevent the potential hazards that can be caused by these substances in drinking water that is consumed daily.