Sodium nitrate is a colorless, odorless, crystalline substance known as soda niter, soda nitrate, or Chile saltpeter. It is used to make fertilizers, explosives, high-strength glass, and to preserve meats. However, there have been numerous speculations regarding the global restrictions on the use of sodium nitrate. Many believe its excessive use as a preservative can cause acute health problems, including an increased chance of cancer, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s, high blood pressure, and other conditions.

Uses of sodium nitrate
Despite the above-mentioned speculations, sodium nitrate has various positive uses that include:

As fertilizer
The majority of sodium nitrate used in fertilizers is a water-soluble type of nitrogen. Its uses are appealing because it does not change the pH of the soil. Sodium nitrate includes nitrogen, which is essential for plant growth; too much of this can cause fruit and flower production to be delayed, while too little can lead to stunted plant growth. The plant roots can instantly absorb the nitrogen from sodium nitrate fertilizers.

In meat preservation
Foods like bacon, ham, sandwich meats, deli meat, jerky, and hotdogs frequently contain sodium nitrate and nitrite as antioxidants. Sodium nitrate is believed to inhibit the development of the dangerous environmental bacteria called listeria monocytogenes. This bacterium degrades meat quality and can also cause illness in certain populations. As a result, sodium nitrate has significant impacts on harmful bacteria that spoil the meat. It also inhibits the development of botulism and listeria-causing bacteria, both of which cause adverse reactions in the body.

In the production of glass
Sodium nitrate is used in two stages of the production of chemically strengthened glass. In order to enrich their surface with sodium ions and boost the strength of the finished product, the glass item is first submerged in a sodium nitrate bath. In the manufacturing of high-quality glasses, sodium nitrate is also used to clarify molten glass. Chemically strengthened glass is scratch resistant, has greater impact and bending strength, and is more stable regarding temperature. It also shatters into larger fragments compared to untreated glass. It is useful in the manufacturing of the aircraft canopy of some fighter aircraft and other circumstances where toughness and optical clarity are required. It’s also used as a fluxing medium in the enamel industry, as well as a decolorizer, defoamer, and clarifying substance in the glass industry.

As a component in explosives
Smoke bombs and solid rocket fuel contain sodium nitrate. Because of its benefits like being inexpensive, stable, non-toxic, and non-poisonous, it is known to be used as a substitute for potassium nitrate in black powder propellant. It does, however, have a sluggish burn rate.

As a component in remedies
Numerous eye drops mention sodium nitrate as an inactive ingredient. It is frequently used as a nitrogen-containing control substance rather than an active component of many chemical formulations. A nutritional supplement that contains sodium nitrate can also be used to boost nitrate levels. It is absorbed by the body after oral administration and gets partly converted to nitrite, which is then stored and circulated in the blood, raising nitrite levels. Nitrate and, to a lesser degree, nitrite build up in saliva and may increase salivary flow, which may help treat dry mouth and oropharyngeal issues brought on by chemotherapy and radiation.

Side effects of sodium nitrate

Any typical meal naturally contains nitrates. However, some studies suggest that excessive concentration can result in issues like colorectal cancer. There may be a connection between consuming too much sodium nitrate and other illnesses like leukemia, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, cardiac disease, and cancers of the ovary, stomach, esophagus, pancreas, and thyroid.
Infant nitrate poisoning is a severe problem that can result in methemoglobinemia, a blood disorder. When the water used to prepare baby food comes from unregulated wells, infants can get nitrate poisoning.
The skin and eyes may become irritated by contact to this chemical compound.
High concentrations of this substance can impair the blood’s ability to carry oxygen, resulting in headache, fatigue, dizziness, and a blue tint to the skin and lips.
Exposure to high amounts has the potential to cause side effects, such as breathing difficulties, fainting, and even death. Headaches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal discomfort can all be brought on by sodium nitrate poisoning.

How to prevent the side effects of nitrate-exposure

Restrict the amount of cured meat in your food regime is a simple method to avoid consuming too much sodium nitrate. You can reduce your chance of developing high blood pressure by doing this.
Switch to organic food, which is not grown with artificial nitrogen fertilizers that increase the crop’s nitrate content.
Have foods abundant in vitamin C and antioxidants that can slow down the conversion of nitrates.