Occurrence of Nitrate, Nitrite and Perchlorate in Foods

Nitrate, nitrite and perchlorate may be present in water and foods as a result of human activity or from natural sources. They are anions with relevant chemical activity and an excessive exposure to these substances may be a safety concern due to their direct or indirect potential harmful effects in humans. Nitrite is involved in the potential production of carcinogenic nitrosamines. Perchlorate has ability to disrupt the iodine uptake in the thyroid and may cause hypothyroidism, especially for those young children having iodine deficiency. Technologies have been developed to reduce the presence of such substances in water and foodstuffs.