ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Pollution Processes in Chinese Mining Area
from Isotope Evidence
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Institute of Loess Plateau, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China
Submission date: 2017-10-20
Final revision date: 2017-12-06
Acceptance date: 2017-12-14
Online publication date: 2018-06-11
Publication date: 2018-07-09
Corresponding author
Yonggang Yang
Shanxi University, No. 92, Wucheng Road,, 030006 Taiyuan, China
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2018;27(6):2677-2685
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ABSTRACT
Hydrological and nitrate pollution processes are important parts of aquatic ecosystems. For this
study we collected samples of river water, reservoir water, shallow groundwater, deep groundwater,
and precipitation in the Fenhe River Basin. δD and δ18O were used to identify the hydrological process.
δ15N-NO3- and δ18O-NO3- were used to identify the sources and pollution process of NO3-. The results
show that precipitation is the main source of water in the study area, and there is an obvious isotopic
fractionation caused by evaporation. The reservoir water, river water, soil water, and shallow groundwater
had a mutual recharge and discharge association. Deep groundwater is recharged by archaic groundwater
and less affected by evaporation and human activity. NO3- is the main N species in the study area,
nitrification is the main source of NO3-, and denitrification is also found in some river branches. 46.2%
of NO3--N concentrations exceeded the drinking water standard of China. NO3- Sources are mainly
controlled by land use type. Nitrogen in precipitation and soil organic N are the major sources of NO3- in
the upstream. The midstream area is mainly polluted by manure and sewage, while the downstream area
is polluted by a mixture of soil organic N and fertilizers.