Abstract: Objective To explore the relationship between the contents of ammonia,nitrite and nitrate nitrogen in drinking water and the high incidence of esophageal cancer among Kazakh residents in Yili,Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region,and to provide evidences for the prevention of esophageal cancer in the population.Methods Ammonia,nitrite and nitrate nitrogen in drinking water were detected by using ultraviolet and visible spectrophotometer according to the national standard method.Results The contents of ammonia,nitrite and nitrate nitrogen in river water of Xinyuan county were 0.549,0.038 and 15.633 mg/kg,and were significantly higher than those of Gongliu county(0.359,0.029 and 10.786 mg/kg)(P<0.05);the contents of ammonia and nitrate nitrogen exceeded those of national standard(GB5749-2006).Ammonia,nitrite and nitrate nitrogen in drinking water of Xinyuan county and Gongliu county in summer and autumn were relatively higher than those of other seasons.For the four seasons(spring,summer,autumn and winter)contents of ammonia nitrogen were 0.224,0.473,0.328,and 0.105 mg/kg and 0.187,0.310,0.203,and 0.111 mg/kg;the contents of nitrite nitrogen were 0.018,0.031,0.024,and 0.013 mg/kg and 0.015,0.021,0.020,and 0.018 mg/kg;and the contents of nitrate nitrogen were 8.436,14.152,9.547,and 7.542 mg/kg and 7.753,10.260,7.953,and 5.466 mg/kg in the drinking water from Xinyuan and Gongliu county,respectively.Conclusion Levels of ammonia,nitrite and nitrate nitrogen in drinking water from Xinyuan country are relatively high,which might be correlated with high-incidence of esophageal cancer among Kazakh residents in Yili of Xinjiang.