Dangerous poison in well water: explanation by Dmytro Zaruba from the State Environmental Inspectorate

Dmytro Zaruba, First Deputy Head of the State Environmental Inspectorate, demonstrated the danger of nitrates and nitrites in healthy water using his example, emphasizing that this problem concerns not only individual regions but also the entire territory of Ukraine.

Even “clean” water can hide a danger.

The problem that affected Dmytro Zaruba personally started with a simple thing: He handed over water from his own well for analysis and received results that showed an excess of nitrates.

“Many Ukrainians buy bottled water or install filters – this is not just a trend. This is a way to protect themselves. Even clear water from a well can contain nitrates and nitrites – colorless, harmless substances, but with a serious threat to health,” he explains.

What are nitrates and nitrites?

Nitrates enter the water through soils fertilized with fertilizers, manure, or sewage.
In the body or when heated, they can turn into nitrites – toxic compounds that block oxygen transfer in the blood.
Why is this dangerous?

Children under one year old are at the most significant risk, as they can develop “blue baby syndrome” (methemoglobinemia) – a condition in which the blood cannot carry oxygen, which causes difficulty breathing.

Adults and older children also face serious risks:

chronic fatigue,
anemia,
liver and kidney problems,
reduced immunity,
increased risk of stomach and intestinal cancer.
“This is not just a theory – it is a real threat,” Zaruba emphasized.

Boiling water is not a solution to the problem.

This is one of the most common mistakes.

Nitrates do not disappear when boiling.
Water evaporates, which leads to an increase in the concentration of harmful substances.
Some nitrates turn into nitrites, which are even more dangerous.
Canning with such water is extremely dangerous: interacting with acid, it can lead to the formation of carcinogens, nitrosamines.

The situation in Ukraine: where is the problem most acute?

Ternopil and Kyiv regions exceeded the norm by 2.5-3 times, in some cases by 20 times.
Cherkasy region – in some sources, the indicators are 1.5-4 times higher than the permissible ones.
These are only official indicators based on the results of inspections.
What to do?

1. Check the water. Have the water analyzed in a laboratory or use rapid tests.
2. Avoid giving well or borehole water to children under one year old.
3. Do not boil or can with this water.
4. Install a high-quality filter – reverse osmosis or ion exchange.
5. Analyze at least once a year.

“Nitrates are not a trifle. This is a hidden risk that is not visible. Especially if you have children, it is better to check once than to regret later,” summed up Dmytro Zaruba.