nitrite

nitrite /ni·trite/ (ni´trit) any salt or ester of nitrous acid.

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ni·trite (ntrt)

n.

1. The univalent radical NO₂.

2. A compound containing such a radical, such as a salt or ester of nitrous acid.

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nitrite

any salt of nitrous acid; organic nitrites are used in the treatment of angina pectoris in humans.

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nitrite poisoning

causes methemoglobinemia and anemic anoxia. Signs are dyspnea and coffee color of mucosae and blood. Pregnant cows may abort several weeks later. Nitrite may come preformed in feed contaminated by a chemical agent, or in nitrate-rich food in which the nitrate is converted to nitrite during processing, e.g. low temperature cooking, heating of hay in a stack or moldering. Most cases are in ruminants which convert nitrate to nitrite in the rumen, the source being nitrate-rich plants. See also nitrate.

nitrite-treated fish meal

used as a preservative and color-preservation agent the nitrite is converted biologically to a toxic nitrosamine, dimethylnitrosamine.