Certified in Public Health (CPH) Practice Exam

What health condition is associated with high levels of nitrates in drinking water?

1. Hypertension

2. Blue-Baby Syndrome

3. Liver disease

4. Cancer

The correct answer is: Blue-Baby Syndrome

High levels of nitrates in drinking water are closely associated with Blue-Baby Syndrome, formally known as methemoglobinemia. This condition primarily affects infants under six months of age. Nitrates can convert to nitrites in the body, which then interfere with the ability of hemoglobin to carry oxygen, leading to reduced oxygen levels in the blood. Since infants have an immature gastrointestinal tract that can convert nitrates to nitrites more effectively than older children and adults, they are particularly vulnerable to this condition. In contrast, hypertension, liver disease, and certain types of cancer can be influenced by various environmental exposures, including water quality, but they do not have the same direct and immediate association with nitrate levels in drinking water as Blue-Baby Syndrome does. Understanding these relationships is crucial in public health practices, especially in monitoring and regulating drinking water quality to protect vulnerable populations like infants.