Analysis of Contaminated Ground Water Inducing Methemoglobinemia and Epidemiologic Investigation of Contaminated Ground Water

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Drining of Nitrate-contaminated water has been the most common cause of acquired methemoglobinemia. We had cyanotic infant diagnosed as methemoglobinemia caused by feeding with powdered formula mixed with nitrate-contaminated ground water. METHODS: We had done epidemiologic investigation to identify the cause of an infant's methemoglobinemia. Analysis of ground water and blood test of involved family members and neighbors were performed RESULTS: Analysis of the 8 household ground water revealed high level of nitrate(29837 ppm), indicating contamination of water as the cause of methemoglobinemia. We had done blood tests to evaluate the methemoglobin level of 65 people in the neighborhood ; among them, there was no infant and we could not find another cyanotic case of methemoglobinemia. They had normal blood level of methemoglobinemic concentration. CONCLUSIONS: If ground water will be used for drinking water, especially for formula water, epidemiologic investigation and analysis of ground waters should be recommended.