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Tracing nitrate pollution sources of karst groundwater in water resources using environmental isotopes

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Abstract

The contamination of NO3− in groundwater is a global concern, requiring the identification of biogeochemical transformations and sources of nitrate (NO3−) to understand the different nitrogen (N) pathways. This is necessary for the regulation of dispersed pollution of groundwater caused by livestock and agricultural activities. Jinan, located in eastern China, serves as a suitable case study due to its reliance on karst groundwater as a water source and its significant population, industrial, and agricultural development, which pose a substantial risk of nitrogen pollutants in groundwater. Therefore, this study aims to investigate NO3− concentrations and isotopic compositions of N and oxygen in karst groundwater in Jinan City, Shandong province, eastern China, to determine the most significant sources and transformations of NO3−. Approximately 86% of the groundwater samples exceed the NO3−–N standard for drinking water proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO). Furthermore, chemical indicators (Cl−, HCO3−, and TDS) and the oxygen and nitrogen isotopic compositions of NO3− indicate that soil organic nitrogen, manure, and urban sewage are the main sources of NO3− in the groundwater. Isotopic analyses also suggest that various biogeochemical transformations, such as nitrification and volatilization, occur throughout the study area, with microbial nitrification being the dominant process in water resource areas with high NO3− concentrations. To reduce NO3− pollution in the Changqing–Xiaolipu water supply, several suggestions have been proposed.

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Data availability

The data presented in this study are available on request from the corresponding author.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 42102076) and project ZR2021QD037 supported by Shandong Provincial Natural Science Foundation. We especially thank anonymous reviewers for their valuable and constructive comments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. 801 Institute of Hydrogeology and Engineering Geology, Shandong Provincial Bureau of Geology & Mineral Resources (Shandong Provincial Geo-Mineral Engineering Exploration Institute), Jinan, 250014, China

    Yunfeng Zhang, Dalu Yu, Di Wu, Yuhui Zhao & Bo Li

  2. Shandong Engineering Research Center for Environmental Protection and Remediation on Groundwater, Jinan, 250014, China

    Yunfeng Zhang, Dalu Yu, Di Wu, Yuhui Zhao & Bo Li

  3. Shandong Hydrogeology Engineering Geology and Environment Geology Corporation, Jinan, 250014, China

    Zhe Zhang, Baohui Huang, Mingguo Wang & Junru Gao

  4. Shandong Geology and Mineral Resources Materials Corporation, Jinan, 250014, China

    Yuxiao Kang

  5. School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo, 255000, China

    Rui Liu

Authors
  1. Yunfeng Zhang
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  2. Dalu Yu
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  3. Di Wu
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  4. Yuhui Zhao
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  5. Zhe Zhang
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  6. Bo Li
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  7. Baohui Huang
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  8. Mingguo Wang
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  9. Junru Gao
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  10. Yuxiao Kang
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  11. Rui Liu
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Contributions

Y.F Zhang, D.L Yu, D. Wu, Y.H Zhao, Z. Zhang, B. Li and R. Liu wrote the main manuscript text; B.H Huang, M.G Wang, J.R Gao and Y.X Kang prepared figures 1-6.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Dalu Yu or Rui Liu.

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Zhang, Y., Yu, D., Wu, D. et al. Tracing nitrate pollution sources of karst groundwater in water resources using environmental isotopes. Carbonates Evaporites 38, 80 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13146-023-00906-5

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