OCCUPATION AND HEALTH ›› 2026, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (19): 2678-2682.

• Treatise——Environment and Health • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Analysis of nitrate nitrogen pollution levels and health risks assessment in rural drinking water in Qinghai Province from 2015 to 2024

JI Xiuliang, YANG Junsheng, XIE Xiaoyuan, PU Changqing, GUO Xuebin, LI Xiaoping()   

  1. Qinghai Center for Disease Prevention and ControlXiningQinghai 810007, China
  • Received:2025-07-21 Revised:2025-12-24 Online:2026-10-01 Published:2026-08-17
  • Contact: LI Xiaoping,E-mail:qhcdcjxl@126.com

Abstract:

Objective To understand the exposure level of nitrate nitrogen in rural drinking water in Qinghai Province,assess the health risk of the population,and provide technical support for the improvement work of rural water supply. Methods Monitoring of nitrate nitrogen was conducted on 26 181 samples of rural drinking water in Qinghai Province from 2015 to 2024. Ion chromatography was used to determine the mass concentrations of nitrate nitrogen. The compliance of nitrate nitrogen was evaluated according to the GB 5749-2022 "Sanitary Standards for drinking water". The health risk of exposure to nitrate nitrogen through the drinking water route was evaluated according to the WS/T 777-2021 "Technical Guidelines for Environmental Health Risk Assessment of Chemical Substance". Results A total of 26 181 rural drinking water samples was monitored in Qinghai Province,with a mean nitrate nitrogen concentration of 1.77 mg/L,and the nitrate nitrogen compliance rate was 97.90%. Statistically significant differences in the compliance rate of water samples were observed across different years,water periods,water source types,water treatment methods and regions(all P<0.05). From 2015 to 2024,the non-carcinogenic risks(P50P95) for all age groups were below 1,among which the non-carcinogenic risk(P50P95) of nitrate nitrogen in drinking water of 2-<3 years old group was the highest,at 0.065,0.273,respectively. Conclusion The non-carcinogenic risks of nitrate nitrogen in rural drinking water in Qinghai Province from 2015 to 2024 is relatively low. Although the age group of 2-<3 has the highest risk,it is still within the safe threshold(HQ<1). However,special attention should be paid to the nitrate nitrogen exposure level of rural drinking water sourced from groundwater. It is suggested to carry out continuous monitoring and transform the water treatment process to ensure the safety of residents' drinking water.

Key words: Rural drinking water, Nitrate nitrogen, Health risks assessment, Pollution level, Infants and young children, Oral intake

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