Nitrogen and water quality Nitrogen and water quality Nitrogen is one of the most abundant elements. About 80 percent of the air we breath is nitrogen. It is found in the cells of all living things and is a major component of proteins. NO 2- or ammonia NH3.
Organic nitrogen is found in proteins, and is continually recycled by plants and animals.
This test used to be done using a colorimetric test. However, Ion Chromatography is now used for nitrate and nitrite analysis. See Appendix II-D for a discussion of Ion Chromatography. Nitrites also can react directly with hemoglobin in the blood of humans and other warm-blooded animals to produce methemoglobin. Methemoglobin destroys the ability of red blood cells to transport oxygen.