Cole-Parmer products

Nitrates are essential plant nutrients, but in excess amounts they can cause significant water quality problems. One of these is to accelerate eutrophication where the response of the ecosystem to raised nitrates or phosphates is a “bloom” caused by the great increase of phytoplankton or cyanobacteria.  Excess nitrates can also cause dramatic increases in aquatic plant growth and changes in the types of plants and animals that live in the aquatic ecosystem. This subsequently lowers the levels of dissolved oxygen, causing hypoxia which in turn induces reductions in specific fish and other animal populations.