|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
We are now at the USGS laboratory of water quality where the scientists are now going to in form us about nitrates. Apparently a nitrate is a salt of nitric acid with ion composed of one nitrogen and three oxygen atoms. ( NO3-) In organic chemistry the esters of nitric acid and alcohols are also called nitrates. They have also told us that nitrates can create algae. So now we know what is making algae. Someone named Dr.Higglefish told us that nitrates could impair the immune system, which means damage it, or cause death to fish if it reaches a higher level over 30 ppm and stress to aquatic species. He also told us that high levels of nitrates are also toxic to humans and that they cause methemoglobemia. (Blue baby syndrome) This condition harms the hemoglobin making it unable to carry oxygen… that is very bad for us humans.Nitrate levels below 90mg and 0.5mg have absolutely no effect on fish that live in warm water. For fish that live in cold water these people recommend a minimum of 0.06 mg of nitrates. Now we move onto the professor/mad scientist
Dr.Toxic who told us that nitrates are also apart of fertilizers for
crops. But when it rains the fertilizers make a runoff
from farmlands to water areas. He also told us that nitrates are 80%
of the oxygen that we breathe.(After he told us that he started laughing
for no reason) The last thing they told us about nitrates was that nitrates
also appear in groundwater so BE CAREFUL and make sure there is not
an excessive amount of fertilizer in our water.
|
|
