Skip to main content
Log in

Health Risk Assessment of Nitrate Contamination in Groundwater: A Case Study of an Agricultural Area in Northeast China

  • Published:
Water Resources Management Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

High levels of nitrates in groundwater pose a risk to human health. In this study, we selected areas with typical agricultural nitrate pollution in northeast China as study sites. We then collected groundwater samples for nitrate nitrogen content analysis using the Four Step method developed by the United State Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) in conjunction with the non-carcinogens health risk model (R = CDI/RfD) to determine the health risk associated with nitrate pollution of groundwater. The reference value of nitrates in drinking water was set at 10 mg/L (measured as nitrogen) and the intake reference dose of nitrate was set at 1.6 mg•kg−1•d−1 based on the EPA’s IRIS(Integrated Risk Information System). The water intake reference values were set at 2.3 L/d and 1.5 L/d based on the EPA values and actual values observed in the study area. The average exposure time was the ED (exposure duration) × 365d/a. Weights refer to the 2002 national urban and rural average weight of residents of different genders and different ages. Health hazard index calculation was based on the above information, and the index less than 1 is acceptable (U.S. EPA’s Risk Assessment Guide). Health risk assessment maps were then drawn by Arcgis software. The results indicated that agricultural sewage irrigation areas in the study area showed strong health risks, but that those of the city were relatively small. Moreover, the results indicated that children’s health risks are greater than those of adults.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

References

  • Burow KR, Nolan BT, Rupert MG, Dubrovsky NM (2010) Nitrate in Groundwater of the United States, 1991–2003. Environ Sci Technol 44:4988–4997

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Comly HH (1945) Cyanosis in infants caused by nitrates in well water. J Am Med Assoc 129:112–116

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) (1989e) Risk Assessment Guidance for Superfund: Volume I. Human Health Evaluation Manual (Part A). OERR. Washington, DC OERR. 9200 6-303-894

  • EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) (1991d) Risk Assessment Guidance for Superfund: Volume I—Human Health Evaluation Manual (Part B, Development of Risk-Based Preliminary Remediation Goals). Interim Final. December

  • Federal-Provincial Working Group on Drinking Water (Canada), Canada. Health and Welfare Canada (1979) Guidelines for Canadian drinking water quality: 1978, 1st edn. Minister of National Health and Welfare, Ottawa

    Google Scholar 

  • Davis G, Hickox WH, Denton J (2001) A Guide to Health Risk Assessment. California Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment

  • Mattern S, Fasbender D, Vanclooster M (2009) Discriminating sources of nitrate pollution in an unconfined sandy aquifer. J Hydrol 376:275–284

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • National Research Council (NRC) (1983) Risk Assessment in the federal government: managing the process. National Academies Press, Washington, DC

  • Panagopoulos Y, Makropoulos C, Mimikou M (2011) Diffuse surface water pollution: driving factors for different geoclimatic regions. Water Resour Manag 25:3635–3660

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rodvang SJ, Simpkins WW (2001) Agricultural contaminants in quaternary aquitards: a review of occurrence and fate in North America. Hydrogeol J 9:44–59

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • The US EPA (2001) Reference Dose for Chronic Oral Exposure [EB/OL].[2011-03-20]. http://www.epa.gov/ncea/iris/subst/0076.htm

  • The USEPA (1980) Risk Assessment Guidance for Superfund: Human Health Evaluation Manual [EB/OL]. [2011-03-20]. http://www.epa.gov/oswer/riskassessment/ragsa/

  • Train R (1976) Interim procedures and guidelines for health risk and economic impact assessments of suspected carcinogens. EPA Office of the Administrator, May 1976

  • Yang AL, Huang GH, Qin XS (2010) An integrated simulation-assessment approach for evaluating health risks of groundwater contamination under multiple uncertainties. Water Resour Manag 24:3349–3369

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Y (2007) Environmental risk assessment of contaminated sites. Postdoctoral station report, Tsinghua University

  • Zhang H (2008) South of Hebei plain groundwater nitrate pollution and its health risk assessment. Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences

  • Zhaoliang Z, North D (2004) Agricultural nonpoint source pollution control group, the Chinese agricultural non-point source pollution control policy recommendations of the Working Group

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was financially supported by the Environmental Protection Research Special Fund for Public Welfare Projects of China (No. 201009009). We thank the Key Laboratory of Groundwater Resources and Environment, Ministry of Education, Jilin University for allowing us the use of their facilities.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yuling Zhang.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Su, X., Wang, H. & Zhang, Y. Health Risk Assessment of Nitrate Contamination in Groundwater: A Case Study of an Agricultural Area in Northeast China. Water Resour Manage 27, 3025–3034 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11269-013-0330-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11269-013-0330-3

Keywords

Navigation