Nitrite is an intermediate product of nitrate reduction or ammonium oxidation. Lifetime: 3 to 30 days - presence indicates active biological process. Nitrite is created by
*(1) oxidation of ammonium by nitrifying bacteria
(2) reduction of nitrate by phytoplankton (euphotic zone)
*(3) reduction of nitrate by denitrifying bacteria
Nitrite is removed by
(1) utilization by phytoplankton (euphotic zone)
(2) bacterial oxidation to nitrate
(3) bacterial reduction (denitrification process)
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