These suggestions, however, have not been confirmed. Since nitrate levels in drinking water are a general indicator of overall water quality, elevated levels may also indicate the presence of other contaminants which could cause health problems. Babies less than four months old have a lower stomach acidity, which allows certain bacteria to grow that are capable of converting nitrate into nitrite. Nitrite then changes the oxygen carrying hemoglobin to methemoglobin, which does not carry oxygen. Although nitrate is found in breast milk, the literature had not confirmed a poisoning of a breast fed infant due to maternal ingestion of nitrate-contaminated water.
Poisonings usually occur when contaminated water is used to prepare infant formula and foods.
Boiling water for infant formula is a good practice for getting rid of bacteria, but it will not get rid of nitrates.