Final answer:
Implementing the WHO standard for drinking water nitrate levels includes regular water quality monitoring below 10 mg/L, improving agricultural practices to reduce runoff, installing effective water treatment systems, educating the public, and using alternative safe water sources for infants.
Step-by-step explanation:
To protect infants from methemoglobinemia, also known as blue baby syndrome, implementations of the WHO drinking water standard for nitrate concentration are essential. Such measures include:
- Regular monitoring of water quality to ensure nitrate levels are below the maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 10 mg/L.
- Improvements in agricultural practices to reduce nitrate runoff into groundwater.
- Investing in water treatment facilities that can remove nitrates effectively from drinking water.
- Educating the public about the risks of high nitrate levels, particularly for infants under six months of age.
- Using alternative water sources for infant formula preparation if nitrate contamination is detected.
While there are controversies regarding the linkage between nitrates and methemoglobinemia, preventive measures remain important, especially in light of other potential health concerns such as exposure to arsenic and fluoride in drinking water.