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Distribution of Nitrate in Different Aquifers in the Urban District of Zhanjiang, China

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Abstract

The study of NO3 contamination in groundwater is becoming increasingly significant as high concentrations of NO3 in groundwater can do damage to public health. Nitrate pollution in the shallow, middle-deep and deep aquifers in the urban district of Zhanjiang was studied using the ordinary Kriging interpolation method combined with hydrochemical and correlation analyses in 2011. The results showed NO3 pollution was present in the shallow groundwater, with average concentrations of 47.43 mg/L and standard deviation of 50.92. Nitrate concentrations were lower in middle-deep and deep aquifers, with average concentrations of 2.36, 0.80 mg/L, and standard deviation of 6.23, 0.93, respectively. Nitrate was correlated with Na+ + K+, Mg2+, Cl and SO4 2− in the shallow aquifer, and the spatial distributions of NO3 exhibited a same pattern with TDS in the shallow aquifer, the NO3 pollution in the middle-deep and deep aquifers is less serious.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 41372245; 41272251). Authors thank Cheng Qian (University of Nevada, Reno) for his help in English.

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Correspondence to Jiazhong Qian.

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He, X., Liu, Z., Qian, J. et al. Distribution of Nitrate in Different Aquifers in the Urban District of Zhanjiang, China. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 97, 279–285 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-016-1822-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-016-1822-7

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