Source apportionment and health risks of nitrate pollution in shallow groundwater in the agricultural Northern Xiaoxing' an Mountains region of China
Study region: Northern Xiaoxing'an Mountains, a key agricultural region in Northeast China. Study focus: Groundwater nitrate (NO₃⁻) contamination has become a widespread concern due to agricultural intensification and anthropogenic activities. This study investigated the sources, spatial distri...
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Elsevier
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214581825002198 |
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| author | Jilin Zheng Xiaoyu Guo Yanlong Cai Junshuai Liu Dake Wang Xiaoqi Gao Bowen Tan |
| author_facet | Jilin Zheng Xiaoyu Guo Yanlong Cai Junshuai Liu Dake Wang Xiaoqi Gao Bowen Tan |
| author_sort | Jilin Zheng |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Study region: Northern Xiaoxing'an Mountains, a key agricultural region in Northeast China. Study focus: Groundwater nitrate (NO₃⁻) contamination has become a widespread concern due to agricultural intensification and anthropogenic activities. This study investigated the sources, spatial distribution, and health risks of nitrate pollution using hydrochemical analysis, multivariate statistical methods, and health risk assessment. APCS-MLR (Absolute Principal Component Scores-Multiple Linear Regression) was employed to quantify pollution sources, while Monte Carlo simulation was utilized to assess health risks among different population groups. New hydrological insights for the region: Groundwater NO₃⁻ concentrations averaged 31.06 mg/L, with 60 % of samples exceeding Class III water quality standards. APCS-MLR identified agricultural activities as the dominant pollution source (64.04 %), followed by domestic sewage (24.14 %), with pollution hotspots concentrated in intensive farming areas. Hydrochemical analysis revealed two predominant groundwater types: Ca-HCO₃ and Ca-Cl(NO₃+SO₄), with the latter associated with anthropogenic contamination. Health risk assessment highlighted infants as the most vulnerable group, with a 95th percentile Hazard Quotient of 2.38, significantly exceeding the safety threshold. Key factors distinguishing agricultural and domestic pollution sources included distinctive correlations between NO₃⁻, Cl⁻, and SO₄²⁻, hydrochemical patterns in Gibbs diagrams, and spatial correspondence with land use. This comprehensive characterization provides a scientific foundation for implementing targeted nitrate management strategies in this agriculturally important region. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9e5dcdda8b5d478ca82b68d1df50fdb7 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2214-5818 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies |
| spelling | doaj-art-9e5dcdda8b5d478ca82b68d1df50fdb72025-08-20T03:13:04ZengElsevierJournal of Hydrology: Regional Studies2214-58182025-06-015910239410.1016/j.ejrh.2025.102394Source apportionment and health risks of nitrate pollution in shallow groundwater in the agricultural Northern Xiaoxing' an Mountains region of ChinaJilin Zheng0Xiaoyu Guo1Yanlong Cai2Junshuai Liu3Dake Wang4Xiaoqi Gao5Bowen Tan6School of Earth Sciences and Resources, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing 100083, China; Harbin Center for Integrated Natural Resources Survey, China Geological Survey, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150086, China; Observation and Research Station of Earth Critical Zone in Black Soil, Harbin, Ministry of Natural Resources, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150086, ChinaSchool of Earth Sciences and Resources, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing 100083, China; Harbin Center for Integrated Natural Resources Survey, China Geological Survey, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150086, China; Observation and Research Station of Earth Critical Zone in Black Soil, Harbin, Ministry of Natural Resources, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150086, China; Corresponding author at: School of Earth Sciences and Resources, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing 100083, China.Harbin Center for Integrated Natural Resources Survey, China Geological Survey, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150086, China; Observation and Research Station of Earth Critical Zone in Black Soil, Harbin, Ministry of Natural Resources, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150086, ChinaHarbin Center for Integrated Natural Resources Survey, China Geological Survey, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150086, China; Observation and Research Station of Earth Critical Zone in Black Soil, Harbin, Ministry of Natural Resources, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150086, ChinaHarbin Center for Integrated Natural Resources Survey, China Geological Survey, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150086, China; Observation and Research Station of Earth Critical Zone in Black Soil, Harbin, Ministry of Natural Resources, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150086, ChinaHarbin Center for Integrated Natural Resources Survey, China Geological Survey, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150086, China; Observation and Research Station of Earth Critical Zone in Black Soil, Harbin, Ministry of Natural Resources, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150086, ChinaHarbin Center for Integrated Natural Resources Survey, China Geological Survey, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150086, China; Observation and Research Station of Earth Critical Zone in Black Soil, Harbin, Ministry of Natural Resources, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150086, ChinaStudy region: Northern Xiaoxing'an Mountains, a key agricultural region in Northeast China. Study focus: Groundwater nitrate (NO₃⁻) contamination has become a widespread concern due to agricultural intensification and anthropogenic activities. This study investigated the sources, spatial distribution, and health risks of nitrate pollution using hydrochemical analysis, multivariate statistical methods, and health risk assessment. APCS-MLR (Absolute Principal Component Scores-Multiple Linear Regression) was employed to quantify pollution sources, while Monte Carlo simulation was utilized to assess health risks among different population groups. New hydrological insights for the region: Groundwater NO₃⁻ concentrations averaged 31.06 mg/L, with 60 % of samples exceeding Class III water quality standards. APCS-MLR identified agricultural activities as the dominant pollution source (64.04 %), followed by domestic sewage (24.14 %), with pollution hotspots concentrated in intensive farming areas. Hydrochemical analysis revealed two predominant groundwater types: Ca-HCO₃ and Ca-Cl(NO₃+SO₄), with the latter associated with anthropogenic contamination. Health risk assessment highlighted infants as the most vulnerable group, with a 95th percentile Hazard Quotient of 2.38, significantly exceeding the safety threshold. Key factors distinguishing agricultural and domestic pollution sources included distinctive correlations between NO₃⁻, Cl⁻, and SO₄²⁻, hydrochemical patterns in Gibbs diagrams, and spatial correspondence with land use. This comprehensive characterization provides a scientific foundation for implementing targeted nitrate management strategies in this agriculturally important region.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214581825002198Nitrate PollutionGroundwater QualityHealth Risk AssessmentAPCS-MLRMonte CarloNorthern Xiaoxing'an Mountains |
| spellingShingle | Jilin Zheng Xiaoyu Guo Yanlong Cai Junshuai Liu Dake Wang Xiaoqi Gao Bowen Tan Source apportionment and health risks of nitrate pollution in shallow groundwater in the agricultural Northern Xiaoxing' an Mountains region of China Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies Nitrate Pollution Groundwater Quality Health Risk Assessment APCS-MLR Monte Carlo Northern Xiaoxing'an Mountains |
| title | Source apportionment and health risks of nitrate pollution in shallow groundwater in the agricultural Northern Xiaoxing' an Mountains region of China |
| title_full | Source apportionment and health risks of nitrate pollution in shallow groundwater in the agricultural Northern Xiaoxing' an Mountains region of China |
| title_fullStr | Source apportionment and health risks of nitrate pollution in shallow groundwater in the agricultural Northern Xiaoxing' an Mountains region of China |
| title_full_unstemmed | Source apportionment and health risks of nitrate pollution in shallow groundwater in the agricultural Northern Xiaoxing' an Mountains region of China |
| title_short | Source apportionment and health risks of nitrate pollution in shallow groundwater in the agricultural Northern Xiaoxing' an Mountains region of China |
| title_sort | source apportionment and health risks of nitrate pollution in shallow groundwater in the agricultural northern xiaoxing an mountains region of china |
| topic | Nitrate Pollution Groundwater Quality Health Risk Assessment APCS-MLR Monte Carlo Northern Xiaoxing'an Mountains |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214581825002198 |
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