Groundwater nitrate contamination in China: Spatial distribution, temporal trend, and driver analysis
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Updated: Aug 13, 2026

Calibrated Passive Sampling - Multi-plot Field Measurements of NH3 Emissions with a Combination of Dynamic Tube Method and Passive Samplers
Published on: March 21, 2016
Qing Zhou1, Jiangjiang Zhang2, Ke Xing3
1State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Soil Environmental Management and Pollution Control, Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Nanjing, 210042, China; State Key Laboratory of Soil & Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, 211135, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
Abstract:
China's groundwater is facing a significant threat from nitrate pollution. Here we analyzed 2348 regional surveys of groundwater nitrate levels in China from 1990 to 2020, examining distribution, trends, and drivers. This study uncovers a concerning rise in nitrate pollution, with estimated median nitrate levels climbing from 3.84 mg/L in 1990 to 6.94 mg/L in 2020. A stark contrast is observed between regions: the northern areas have a median nitrate concentration of 8.54 mg/L, significantly higher than the southern regions, where the median is just 7.15 mg/L. From 1990 to 2020, agricultural activity consistently emerges as the dominant driver of changes in groundwater nitrate concentrations, while groundwater exploitation, domestic pollution, and industrial production also contribute to varying degrees. This analysis highlights the urgency for region-specific policies and interventions to address the escalating nitrate pollution in China's groundwater.
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