Skip to main content

Advertisement

Springer Nature Link
Log in

Groundwater nitrate contamination and risk assessment in an agricultural area, South Korea

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Environmental Earth Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The nitrate of groundwater in the Gimpo agricultural area, South Korea, was characterized by means of nitrate concentration, nitrogen-isotope analysis, and the risk assessment of nitrogen. The groundwaters belonging to Ca–(Cl + NO3) and Na–(Cl + NO3) types displayed a higher average NO3 − concentration (79.4 mg/L), exceeding the Korean drinking water standard (<44.3 mg/L NO3 −). The relationship between δ18O–NO3 − values and δ15N–NO3 − values revealed that nearly all groundwater samples with δ15N–NO3 − of +7.57 to +13.5‰ were affected by nitrate from manure/sewage as well as microbial nitrification and negligible denitrification. The risk assessment of nitrate for groundwater in the study area was carried out using the risk-based corrective action model since it was recognized that there is a necessity of a quantitative assessment of health hazard, as well as a simple estimation of nitrate concentration. All the groundwaters of higher nitrate concentration than the Korean drinking water standard (<44.3 mg/L NO3 −) belonged to the domain of the hazard index <1, indicating no health hazard by nitrate in groundwater in the study area. Further, the human exposure to the nitrate-contaminated soil was below the critical limit of non-carcinogenic risk.

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

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
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

Explore related subjects

Discover the latest articles and news from researchers in related subjects, suggested using machine learning.

References

  • Agriculture Technology Center of Gimpo City (2011) http://agri.gimpo.go.kr. Accessed 2011

  • Appelo CAJ, Postma D (1994) Geochemistry, groundwater and pollution. A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam, pp 271–279

    Google Scholar 

  • Aravena R, Evans ML, Cherry JA (1993) Stable isotopes of oxygen and nitrogen in source identification of nitrate from septic systems. Ground Water 31:180–186

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) (1995) Standard guide for risk-based corrective action applied at petroleum release sites. ASTM E-1739, pp 1–395

  • Bedard-Haughn A, van Groenigen JW, van Kessel C (2003) Tracing 15N through landscapes: potential uses and precautions. J Hydrol 272:175–190

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Böhlke JK, Denver JM (1995) Combined use of groundwater dating, chemical, and isotope analyses to resolve the history and fate of nitrate contamination in two agricultural watersheds, Atlantic coastal plain, Maryland. Water Resour Res 31:2319–2339

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burns DA, Kendall C (2002) Analysis of δ15N and δ18O to differentiate NO3 − sources in runoff at two watersheds in the Catskill mountains of New York. Water Resour Res 38:1–11

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chang CCY, Langston J, Riggs M, Campbell DH, Silva SR, Kendall C (1999) A method for nitrate collection for d15N and d18O analysis from waters with low nitrate concentrations. Can J Fish Aquat Sci 56:1856–1864

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen JJ, Chen Y-J, Teuschler LK, Rice G, Hamernik K, Protzol A, Kodell RL (2003) Cumulative risk assessment for quantitative response data. Environmetrics 14:339–353

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Domenico PA (1987) An analytical model for multidimensional transport of a decaying contaminant species. J Hydrol 91:49–58

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Drimmie RJ, Zhang L, Heemskerk AR (2006) 15N/18O in dissolved nitrate, Technical Procedure 12.0, Revision 03, Environmental Isotope Laboratory: 9 pages. Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo

    Google Scholar 

  • EPA US (1990) Criteria document for nitrate/nitrite. Office of Drinking Water, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Fetter CW (2001) Applied hydrogeology. Prentice-Hall, New Jersey, pp 66–112

    Google Scholar 

  • Fogg GE, Rolston DE, Decker DL, Louice DT, Grismer ME (1998) Spatial variation in nitrogen isotope values beneath nitrate contamination sources. Ground Water 36:418–426

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Freyer HD, Aly AJM (1974) 15N studies on identifying fertilizer excess in environmental systems, In: Isotope ratios as pollutant source and behavior indicators. IAEA, Vienna, pp 21–33

  • Ghabayen SMS, Mckee M, Kemblowski M (2006) Ionic and isotopic ratios for identification of salinity sources and missing data in the Gaza aquifer. J Hydrol 318:360–373

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Groundwater Services (2005) RBCA tool kit software guidance manual for chemical releases, pp 1–34

  • Hamilton PA, Helsel DR (1995) Effects of agriculture on ground-water quality in five regions of the United States. Ground Water 33:217–226

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kendall C (1998) Tracing nitrogen sources and cycling in catchment. In: Isotope tracers in catchment hydrology. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 519–576

  • Kim YT, Woo NC (2003) Nitrate contamination of shallow groundwater in an agricultural area having intensive livestock facilities. J Soil Groundw Environ 8:57–67 (in Korean)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kim KH, Yun ST, Chae GT, Choi BY, Kim SO, Kim KJ, Kim HS, Lee CW (2002) Nitrate contamination of alluvial groundwaters in the Keum river watershed area: source and behaviors of nitrate, and suggestion to secure water supply. J Eng Geol 12:471–484 (in Korean)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kim YB, Song SH, Woo NC, Nam GP, Lee JM et al (2009) Development of in situ remediation techniques for contaminated groundwater with nitrate in rural area. Korea Rural Community Corporation, Republic of Korea (in Korean)

    Google Scholar 

  • Korea Meteorological Administration (2008) http://www.kma.go.kr. Accessed 2008

  • Korean Ministry of Environment (2008) Korean drinking water standard. Ministry of Environment, Republic of Korea (in Korean)

    Google Scholar 

  • KSIS (Korean Statistical Information Service) (2010) http://www.kosis.kr

  • Lee JY (2005) A study on the body surface area of Korean adults. Doctoral dissertation of Seoul National University

  • Lee BJ, Kim YB, Lee SR, Kim JC, Kang PC, Choi H-I, Jin MS (1999) Geological map and explanatory note of the Seoul–Namchonjeom sheet. Korea Institute of Geology Mining and Materials, pp 1–64

  • Lee KS, Bong YS, Lee DH, Kim YJ, Kim KJ (2008) Tracing the sources of nitrate in the Han River watershed in Korea, using δ15N–NO3 − and δ18O–NO3 − values. Sci Total Environ 395:117–124

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li SL, Liu CQ, Li J, Liu X, Chetelat B, Wang B, Wang F (2010) Assessment of the sources of nitrate in Changjiang River, China using a nitrogen and oxygen isotope approach. Environ Sci Technol 44:1573–1578

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mariotti A, Landreau A, Simon B (1988) 15N isotope biogeochemistry and natural denitrification process in groundwater application to the chalk aquifer of northern France. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 52:1869–1878

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mayer B, Boyer EW, Goodale C, Jaworski NA, Breemen NV, Howarth RW, Seitzinger S, Billen G, Lajtha K, Nadelhoffer K, Dam DV, Hetling LJ, Nosal M, Paustian K (2002) Sources of nitrate in rivers draining sixteen watersheds in the northern US: isotopic constrains. Biogeochemistry 57–58:171–197

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McMahon PB, Böhlke JK (1996) Denitrification and mixing in a stream–aquifer system: effects on nitrate loading to surface water. J Hydrol 186:105–128

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mengis M, Schiff SL, Harris M, English MC, Arvena R, Elgood RJ, MacLean A (1999) Multiple geochemical and isotopic approaches for assessing ground water NO3 − elimination in a riparian zone. Ground Water 37:448–457

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • MIFAFF (Ministry of Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries) (2007) Report on groundwater management for agricultural area (Gimgo district, Gimpo City), pp 347–421 (in Korean)

  • Min JH, Yun ST, Kim KJ, Kim HS, Hahn JS, Lee KS (2002) Nitrate contamination of alluvial groundwaters in the Nakdong river basin, Korea. Geosci J 6:35–46

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • MKE (Ministry of Knowledge Economy) (2004) http://www.mke.go.kr. Accessed 2004

  • NGII (National Geographic Information Institute) (2008) http://www.ngii.go.kr. Accessed 2008

  • NIDP (National Institute for Disaster Prevention) (2008) http://www.nidp.go.kr. Accessed 2008

  • Pardo LH, Kendall C, Pett-Ridge J, Chang CCY (2004) Evaluating the source of streamwater nitrate using δ15N and δ18O in nitrate in two watersheds in New Hampshire, USA. Hydrol Process 18:2699–2712

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ryu E, Nahm WH, Yang DY, Kim JY (2005) Diatom floras of a western coastal wetland in Korea: implication for late quaternary paleoenvironment. J Geol Soc Korea 41:227–239 (in Korean)

    Google Scholar 

  • Sacco D, Offi M, Maio MD, Grignani C (2007) Groundwater nitrate contamination risk assessment: a comparison of parametric systems and simulation modeling. Am J Environ Sci 3:117–125

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Silva SR, Kendall C, Wilkinson DH, Ziegler AC, Chang CCY, Avanzino RJ (2000) A new method for collection of nitrate from fresh water and the analysis of nitrogen and oxygen isotope ratios. J Hydrol 228:22–36

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • US EPA (1995) How to evaluate alternative cleanup technologies for underground storage tank sites. EPA 510-8-95-005

  • Wang JL, Yang YS (2008) An approach to catchment-scale groundwater nitrate risk assessment from diffuse agricultural sources: a case study in the Upper Bann, Northern Ireland. Hydrol Process 22:4274–4286

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was financially supported by the Korea Ministry of Environment as “The GAIA Project”.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Technology Development Center, Korea Radioactive Waste Management Corporation, 105-1, Duckjin-Dong, Yusong-Gu, Daejeon, 305-353, Republic of Korea

    Jae-Yeol Cheong

  2. Division of Earth Environmental System, Pusan National University, San 30, Jangjeon-Dong, Geumjeong-Gu, Busan, 609-735, Republic of Korea

    Se-Yeong Hamm & Jeong-Hwan Lee

  3. Korea Basic Science Institute, 52 Eoeun-Dong, Yuseong-Gu, Daejeon, 305-333, Republic of Korea

    Kwang-Sik Lee

  4. Graduate School of Analytical Science and Technology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, 305-764, Republic of Korea

    Kwang-Sik Lee

  5. Department of Earth System Sciences, Yonsei University, 134 Shinchon-Dong, Seodaemun-Gu, Seoul, 120-749, Republic of Korea

    Nam-Chil Woo

Authors
  1. Jae-Yeol Cheong
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Se-Yeong Hamm
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jeong-Hwan Lee
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Kwang-Sik Lee
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Nam-Chil Woo
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Se-Yeong Hamm.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Cheong, JY., Hamm, SY., Lee, JH. et al. Groundwater nitrate contamination and risk assessment in an agricultural area, South Korea. Environ Earth Sci 66, 1127–1136 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-011-1320-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-011-1320-5

Keywords