Is methemoglobinemia caused by nitrates?

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Drinking water with high nitrate can cause a potentially fatal disorder called methemoglobinemia. Methemoglobinemia is a condition in which more than one percent of the hemoglobin in red blood cells take the form of methemoglobin.

What are the three possible causes of methemoglobinemia?

This is also known as acute methemoglobinemia. Acquired methemoglobinemia is the most common type of the condition. It’s caused from exposure to certain medicines, chemicals, or foods. People who carry a genetic form of the condition have a higher chance of developing the acquired type.

What chemicals may cause methemoglobinemia?

Methemoglobinemia is commonly caused by exposure to medical substances, such as benzocaine and dapsone, that oxidize hemoglobin to MetHb; exhaust fumes from internal combustion engines; herbicides and pesticides; and chemicals, such as nitrobenzene and aniline [5-11].

What causes methemoglobin to increase?

Elevated levels of methemoglobin in the blood are caused when the mechanisms that defend against oxidative stress within the red blood cell are overwhelmed and the oxygen carrying ferrous ion (Fe2+) of the heme group of the hemoglobin molecule is oxidized to the ferric state (Fe3+).

Whose excess presence in drinking is responsible for methemoglobinemia?

nitrate
Consuming too much nitrate can be harmful—especially for babies. Consuming too much nitrate can affect how blood carries oxygen and can cause methemoglobinemia (also known as blue baby syndrome).

What happens if you drink sodium nitrate?

Overall, oral ingestion of large amounts of sodium nitrate may cause headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, dyspnoea, bradycardia or tachycardia, hypotension, flushing and cyanosis due to methaemoglobinaemia.

Which of the following is most likely to cause methemoglobinemia?

The most likely cause of methemoglobinemia, therefore, is acquired by exposure to prilocaine hydrochloride.

What are the symptoms of nitrate poisoning?

Clinical signs of nitrite poisoning usually appear acutely due to tissue hypoxia and hypotension resulting from vasodilation. Rapid, weak heartbeat with decreased body temperature, muscular tremors, weakness, and ataxia are early signs of toxicosis at methemoglobinemia levels of 30%–40%.