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The blood pigment contained in the red blood cell which is called hemoglobinEplays a key role in binding with oxygen in the lung, transporting and then releasing the oxygen throughout the human body.
Once the hemoglobin is oxidized by nitrite ions in the blood and changed into methemoglobin, it can no longer bind with oxygen, nor transport oxygen effectively. The higher the methemoglobin concentration is, the less oxygen concentration becomes. This condition is called "methemoglobinemia" from which infants suffer in most cases (also which is called "blue baby syndrome" because the patients' skin turned to be blue lavender).
In the United States or in Europe, many cases of methemoglobinemia (including fatal cases) have been reported over a long period. In Most cases, it was reported to be caused by groundwater with high concentration of nitrate nitrogen used to prepare bottles of milk for babies. In Japan, it has never been reported since the first case of this disease was reported in the late 1990s.
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