为掌握东北地区非点源污染研究动态和明确研究中存在的问题和不足，对近20年（1991—2008年）东北地区有关非点源污染研究成果进行检索、分类和统计分析，以便更好地进行区域水环境治理和污染防治.东北地区非点源污染研究总体呈增加趋势；研究内容包括水环境污染源调查分析与评价、污染负荷量化、机理探索、模型模拟和污染防治5类；研究对象包括氮、磷、泥沙、农药和重金属；经验方法估算污染负荷较多，机理模型应用成功实例较少；研究性论文中以农业非点源污染较多，城市非点源污染较少；治理措施停留在水土保持措施层面上，缺乏对水土保持措施的优选评价和对最佳管理措施的评价研究.目前，东北地区非点源污染研究处在理论探索阶段，非点源污染是否是主要污染源还存在争议.今后应着力于措施应用、评价和基础数据收集及区域非点源污染物的确定和污染负荷的量化研究；尝试新技术和多领域交叉合作，为区域水环境治理提供科学依据.
In order to understand the research trend on nonpoint source (NPS) pollution in Northeast China and to find its problems and shortcomings, the related research findings from 1991 to 2008 were searched, categorized, and statistically analyzed, so that the regional strategies could be employed to bring water pollution under control. Overall, the research on NPS pollution in Northeast China had an increasing trend, and the research contents included investigation and assessment, quantification of pollution load, mechanisms of pollutants translocation, modeling simulation, and prevention and control. The research interests were nitrogen, phosphorus, sediments, pesticides, and heavy metals. Empirical methods rather than mechanism models were more used to estimate the pollution load, and the researches were more on agricultural rather than urban NPS pollution. The control and management of NPS pollution was remained in soil and water conservation, and lacked of optimal collection assessment for soil and water conservation measures and of assessment for optimal management methods. At present, the research was overall at the stage of theoretical exploration, and controversy remained whether the nonpoint source was major source or not. Incoming researches should focus on the measure application, assessment, basic data collection, determination of regional NPS pollutants, quantification of pollution load, and invention of new technologies; and multi-disciplinary corporation should be strengthened to supply scientific bases for regional water environmental control and prevention.