TITLE:
Characterization of Nitrate Contamination in an Arid Region of China
AUTHORS:
Guangwei Huang
KEYWORDS:
Nitrate Contamination; Drinking Water; Crops; Zhangye Basin
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Environmental Protection,
Vol.4 No.7A,
July
11,
2013
ABSTRACT:
There are two pathways for nitrate to
enter into human body: drinking water and food. Therefore, nitrate contamination
of drinking water and agricultural crops is of particular interest to
governments and the general public owing to the possible implications for
health. This work investigated nitrate contents in various crops and in
different parts of each crop and in drinking water as well in the Zhangye
Basin, Northwest China. It provided evidence of severe nitrate contamination of
drinking water, especially, in vegetable-growing villages. As to the nitrate
contamination of crops, the present study revealed that all sampled crops
adjust their nitrate distributions in a way that the edible parts contain much
less nitrate than non-edible parts except lettuce. The nitrate content in the edible
root of lettuce reached up to 5900 mg/kg exceeding the limit set by the
European Commission.