A recent study from Denmark has looked into how "nitrate" in tap water could affect babies before they are born. The study looked at over a million babies born in Denmark between 1991 and 2015. Researchers checked if there's a connection between nitrate levels in tap water and babies being smaller than usual when they're born.

Here's what the study found:
1. When pregnant moms were exposed to higher nitrate levels in tap water (more than 2-5 milligrams per liter), there was a higher chance of their babies being smaller than they should be when born.
2. This was also true for nitrate levels higher than 5-25 milligrams per liter.
3. Even when nitrate levels were below what's normally considered safe (50 milligrams per liter), there was still a risk of having smaller babies.
4. The study suggests that even low levels of nitrate in tap water could be a concern for pregnant women and their babies. 

This research adds to what we know about how nitrate in tap water might affect babies before they are born. It shows that even small amounts of nitrate could be a problem for babies' growth. This highlights the importance of making sure the nitrate levels in drinking water are safe for pregnant women and their babies.

Link to Publication: doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2023.107883