It was demonstrated that nitrate concentration fluctuates dramatically in both urine and saliva throughout the study period and hence single time point ('spot') samples of either fluid give a poor measure of previous nitrate exposure. In contrast, the nitrate recovery in complete 24 h urine collections showed a strong positive correlation with previous nitrate exposure which was independent of the nature of the food matrix in which the nitrate was ingested. Regression analysis of the data showed that the apparent urinary recovery of 70% appears to consist of 55% arising from the original challenge and a background of approximately 0.22 mmol/day which is independent of the challenge and which may reflect endogenous mammalian synthesis of nitrate. It is therefore important that in future epidemiological studies, in which dietary nitrate exposures are to be determined, that analyses are conducted only on 24 h urine collections. A large inter-individual variation was found in the conversion of salivary nitrate to nitrite presumably mediated by the oral flora. The resulting differences in nitrite formation may be one of the factors determining the level of endogenous N-nitroso compound formation in an individual.