Product Description

Nitrate is ubiquitous. It is present in water, soil, plants and food, and is also a normal human metabolite. The main external sources of nitrate are vegetables and drinking water. This book examines the relationship between nitrates and human health. During the last 50 years or so, nitrate has been feared as the source of the rare condition called methaemoglobinaemia, or "blue baby syndrome", for young infants. Nitrate has also been implicated with causing cancer, through increased formation of carcinogenic compounds. Both claims are based on dubious evidence. This book sets out research results to disprove these assumptions, and goes on to explore the beneficial effects of nitrate in preventing infections, cancer and cardiovascular diseases.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3339237 in Books
• Published on: 2002-01-31
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 186 pages

Review
"Nitrate is present in water, soil, plants, and foods, and is a normal human metabolite. Nitrate has been feared as the cause of the rare condition methaemoglobinaemia, or 'blue baby syndrome,' in infants. It has also been suspected of causing cancer. This book reviews the published data on nitrate and demonstrates that claims of danger are based on dubious evidence. The book explores the beneficial effects of nitrate in preventing infections, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases. The book is useful for environmentalists, public health professionals, and those in agriculture, water, and food industries."--SciTech Book News

About the Author
J.-L. L'hirondel, both at Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Caen.