Are Important 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.
Organic nitrogen is found in proteins and is continually recycled by plants and animals.
Thus, aquatic organisms depending on the supply of oxygen in the stream will die. Nitrites also react directly with hemoglobin in human blood and other warm-blooded animals to produce methemoglobin. Methemoglobin destroys the ability of red blood cells to transport oxygen. This condition is especially serious in babies under three months of age.