Tracing groundwater nitrate sources in an intensive agricultural region integrated of a self-organizing map and end-member mixing model tool.

The traceability of groundwater nitrate pollution is crucial for controlling and managing polluted groundwater. This study integrates hydrochemistry, nitrate isotope (δ15N-NO3- and δ18O-NO3-), and self-organizing map (SOM) and end-member mixing (EMMTE) models to identify the sources and quantify the contributions of nitrate pollution to groundwater in an intensive agricultural region in the Sha River Basin in southwestern Henan Province. The results indicate that the NO3--N concentration in 74% (n = 39) of the groundwater samples exceeded the WHO standard of 10 mg/L. According to the results of EMMTE modeling, soil nitrogen (68.4%) was the main source of nitrate in Cluster-1, followed by manure and sewage (16.5%), chemical fertilizer (11.9%) and atmospheric deposition (3.3%). In Cluster-2, soil nitrogen (60.1%) was the main source of nitrate, with a significant increase in the contribution of manure and sewage (35.5%). The considerable contributions of soil nitrogen may be attributed to the high nitrogen fertilizer usage that accumulated in the soil in this traditional agricultural area. Moreover, it is apparent that most Cluster-2 sampling sites with high contributions of manure and sewage are located around residential land. Therefore, the arbitrary discharge and leaching of domestic sewage may be responsible for these results. Therefore, this study provides useful assistance for the continuous management and pollution control of groundwater in the Sha River Basin.

Groundwater hydrochemical signatures, nitrate sources, and potential health risks in a typical karst catchment of North China using hydrochemistry and multiple stable isotopes.

Nitrate pollution in aquatic ecosystems has received growing concern, particularly in fragile karst basins. In this study, hydrochemical compositions, multiple stable isotopes (δ2H-H2O, δ18Ο-Η2Ο, δ15Ν-ΝΟ3-, and δ18Ο-ΝΟ3-), and Bayesian stable isotope mixing model (MixSIAR) were applied to elucidate nitrate pollution sources in groundwater of the Yangzhuang Basin. The Durov diagram identified the dominant groundwater chemical face as Ca-HCO3 type. The NO3- concentration ranged from 10.89 to 90.45 mg/L (average 47.34 mg/L), showing an increasing trend from the upstream forest and grassland to the downstream agricultural dominant area. It is worth noting that 47.2% of groundwater samples exceeded the NO3- threshold value of 50 mg/L for drinking water recommended by the World Health Organization. The relationship between NO3-/Cl- and Cl- ratios suggested that most groundwater samples were located in nitrate mixed endmember from agricultural input, soil organic nitrogen, and manure & sewage. The Self-Organizing Map (SOM) and Pearson correlations analysis further indicated that the application of calcium fertilizer, sodium fertilizer, and livestock and poultry excrement in farmland elevated NO3- level in groundwater. The output results of the MixSIAR model showed that the primary sources of NO3- in groundwater were soil organic nitrogen (55.3%), followed by chemical fertilizers (28.5%), sewage & manure (12.7%), and atmospheric deposition (3.4%). Microbial nitrification was a dominant nitrogen conversion pathway elevating NO3- levels in groundwater, while the denitrification can be neglectable across the study area. The human health risk assessment (HHRA) model identified that about 88.9%, 77.8%, 72.2%, and 50.0% of groundwater samples posing nitrate's non-carcinogenic health hazards (HQ > 1) through oral intake for infants, children, females, and males, respectively. The findings of this study can offer useful biogeochemical information on nitrogen pollution in karst groundwater to support sustainable groundwater management in similar human-affected karst regions.

Nitrate transformation and source tracking of Yarlung Tsangpo River using a multi-tracer approach combined with Bayesian stable isotope mixing model.

Excessive levels of nitrate nitrogen (NO3--N) could lead to ecological issues, particularly in the Yarlung Tsangpo River (YTR) region located on the Qinghai Tibet Plateau. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the fate and sources of nitrogen to facilitate pollution mitigation efforts. Herein, multiple isotopes and source resolution models were applied to analyze key transformation processes and quantify the sources of NO3-. The δ15N-NO3- and δ18O-NO3- isotopic compositions in the YTR varied between 1.23‰ and 13.64‰ and -7.88‰-11.19‰, respectively. The NO3--N concentrations varied from 0.08 to 0.86 mg/L in the dry season and 0.20-1.19 mg/L during the wet season. Nitrification remained the primary process for nitrogen transformation in both seasons. However, the wet season had a widespread effect on increasing nitrate levels, while denitrification had a limited ability to reduce nitrate. The elevated nitrate concentrations during the flood season were caused by increased release of NO3- from manure & sewage (M&S) and chemical fertilizers (CF). Future endeavors should prioritize enhancing management strategies to improve the utilization efficiency of CF and hinder the direct entry of untreated sewage into the water system.

Implication of self-organizing map, stable isotopes combined with MixSIAR model for accurate nitrogen control in a well-protected reservoir.

Nitrogen pollution and eutrophication in reservoirs is a global environmental geochemical concern. Occasional algal blooms still exist in reservoirs that have undergone pollution treatment. The lack of quantitative evidence of nitrogen sources and fate limits long-term stable ecological safety management. This work applied an approach integrated zonal mapping, stable isotopes (δ18OH2O, δ15Nnitrate, δ18Onitrate, and δ13C-DIC) and a Bayesian isotope model to analyze regional and seasonal differences in the contribution and sources of nitrogen to a well-protected reservoir. The values of δ18Onitrate and the positive relationship between NO3- and δ13C-DIC suggested that nitrification was the primary NO3- production in the rivers. While Denitrification was present at only a few sites. Results of the MixSIAR model coupled the NO3-/Cl- indicator revealed that the domestic sewage contributed high riverine NO3- loading (68.6 ± 10.6 %) in the dry season. In the wet season, the main nitrate sources of upper watershed were ammonia and carbamide fertilizers (47.5 % and 40.3 %). While the domestic sewage was still the major contributor of downstream region (a dense residential area), indicating possible problems with rainwater and sewage drainage networks. The results implied that the colleting and treatment of sewages were the priority in downstream region, and non-point source pollution control and wastewater treatment plant upgrading were essential to control nitrate pollution in the two upstream regions. These findings provide new insights into precise nitrogen pollution traceability and identification of treatment priorities in the sub-region, and promote the management other well-protected watershed in similar need of further nitrogen contamination control.

[Tracking Riverine Nitrate Sources and Transformations in the Yiluo River Basin by Nitrogen and Oxygen Isotopes].

The impacts of natural processes and anthropogenic input on riverine nitrate (NO-3) could be identified by NO-3 concentrations and nitrogen and oxygen isotope ratios (δ15N-NO-3 and δ18O-NO-3); however, the effects of variable land use on riverine NO-3 sources and transformations remain unclear. In particular, the human impacts on riverine NO-3 in mountain areas are still unknown. The Yihe River and Luohe River were used to elucidate this question due to their spatially heterogeneous land use. Hydrochemical compositions, water isotope ratios (δD-H2O and δ18O-H2O), and δ15N-NO-3 and δ18O-NO-3 values were utilized to constrain the NO-3 sources and transformations affected by different land use types. The results indicated that ① the mean nitrate concentrations in the Yihe River and Luohe River waters were 6.57 and 9.29 mg·L-1, the mean values of δ15N-NO-3 were 9.6‰ and 10.4‰, and the average δ18O-NO-3 values were -2.2‰ and -2.7‰, respectively. Based on the analysis of δ15N-NO-3 and δ18O-NO-3 values, the NO-3 in the Yihe and Luohe Rivers were derived from multiple sources, and nitrogen removal existed in the Luohe River, but the biological removal in the Yihe River was weak. ② The contributions of different nitrate sources were calculated using a Bayesian isotope mixing model (BIMM) based on δ15N-NO-3 and δ18O-NO-3 values of river water in the mainstream and tributaries with spatial locations. The results revealed that sewage and manure had major impacts on riverine nitrate in the upper reaches of both the Luohe River and Yihe River, where forest vegetation was widely distributed. However, the contributions from soil organic nitrogen and chemical fertilizer were higher in the upper reaches than in downstream ones. The contributions of sewage and manure still increased in the downstream reaches. Our results confirmed the primary impacts of point sources, e.g., sewage and manure, on riverine nitrate in the studied area, and the contributions of nonpoint sources, e.g., chemical fertilizer, had not increased as the agricultural activities elevated the downstream. Therefore, more attention should be paid to point source pollution treatment, and the high-quality development of ecological civilization in the Yellow River Basin should be maintained.

National-scale investigation of dual nitrate isotopes and chloride ion in South Korea: Nitrate source apportionment for stream water.

Nitrate sources in surface water have been identified using dual-isotope compositions of nitrate with various tools to efficiently manage the water quality at the local scale. Correlation between Cl and NO3 has also been used to identify NO3. In this study, we assess the reliability of the dual-isotope approach and Cl in terms of nitrate source apportionment. To this end, we collected stream water samples throughout South Korea to estimate nitrate sources in streams and determine whether the land-use pattern was closely related to nitrate sources. The δ15N-NO3 ranging from -1.3 to 14.8‰ showed a spatial distribution that was lower in mountain ranges (<7‰) than plain areas (>8‰). The Cl concentration in this national-scale distribution was also assessed. The relationship between the proportion of Cl and δ15N-NO3 classifies nitrate sources into areas characterized by three land-use patterns: (1) agricultural and business areas, (2) forests in highlands, and (3) lowland forests, of which (1) had proportions of Cl >50%, while (2) and (3) were <50%. The samples in (3) showed δ15N-NO3 values > 6‰, similar to those of (1). Deuterium excess of samples was negatively correlated (R2 = 0.53) with δ15N-NO3, accounting for the fact that δ15N-NO3 reflected land-use patterns. Samples were dominantly affected by agriculture-derived sources and domestic sewage showed NO3/Cl of <0.4 and δ15N-NO3 of >6‰. These results suggest that nitrate source apportionment should be comprehensively evaluated considering the dual-isotope approach, land-use patterns, and Cl proportions.

Determination of nitrate sources in a karst plateau reservoir based on nitrogen and oxygen isotopes.

Investigating the sources, migration and proportional contribution of nitrate is essential to effectively protect water quality. δ15N-NO3-, δ18O-NO3- and Stable Isotope Analysis in R (SIAR) were used to qualitatively and quantitatively analyse nitrate sources in the Pingzhai Reservoir water body. The values of δ15N-NO3- and δ18O-NO3- in water vary with season. Soil organic nitrogen and chemical fertilisers are the main sources of nitrate in autumn, while domestic sewage and livestock manure are the primary sources of nitrate in winter and spring. The SIAR results showed that chemical fertilisers, livestock manure, sewage, and soil organic nitrogen had the highest proportional contribution. In autumn, the proportional contribution of chemical fertilisers to river and reservoir were 47 and 51 %. During winter, the proportional contributions of livestock manure and sewage to river and reservoir were 53 and 68 %, respectively, and in spring 49 and 68 %, respectively. Considering the fragility of karst ecosystems, strict measures should be formulated for the use of chemical fertilisers and standards for sewage discharge should be raised. Control nitrogen input from agricultural activities and prevent water quality deterioration.

Bioactive Compounds from Leaf Vegetables as Preservatives.

Trends toward a healthier diet are increasing attention to clean-label products. This has led to the search for new ingredients that avoid the use of chemical additives. Food industries are responding to these demands by incorporating natural preservatives into their products, which consumers perceive as healthy. Leafy vegetables would fit this strategy since they are common components of the diet and are associated with beneficial health effects. The objective of this chapter is to offer an overview of the large number of bioactive compounds (phenolic acids, flavonoids, anthocyanins, glucosinolates, and sulfur compounds) present in these plants, which would be responsible for their activity as potential preservatives. Its incorporation into food would improve the quality and extend the shelf life by reducing oxidative processes and inhibiting or retarding the microbial growth that occurs during processing and storage without reducing the organoleptic characteristics of the product.

Data on stable isotopic composition of δ18O and δ15N in nitrate in groundwater, and δ15N in solid matter in the Varazdin area, NW Croatia.

The Varazdin aquifer is the only source of drinking water for inhabitants of the Varazdin County. In the last decades, groundwater contamination with nitrate has become an increasing problem. Therefore, there is a need to define the origin of nitrate as the first step in groundwater remediation. The data in this article consist of δ18O and δ15N values in nitrate in groundwater, and δ15N in solid matter. Groundwater was sampled in the period from April 2018 to December 2019 at 10 different sites by pumping the wells, and directly in the gravel pit in Sijanec. Representative solid samples of plants, soil, manure, and synthetic fertilizers were collected from arable land in two field campaigns (July and October 2019). The presented dataset can be used as a baseline for identification of nitrate sources in groundwater and possible nitrate attenuation processes. The data is related to the research article "Tracking the nitrogen cycle in a vulnerable alluvial system using a multi proxy approach: case study Varazdin alluvial aquifer, Croatia." [1].

Radium and nitrogen isotopes tracing fluxes and sources of submarine groundwater discharge driven nitrate in an urbanized coastal area.

The quantitative evaluations of nutrients delivered by submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) have been widely conducted worldwide, but sources of nutrients in the discharged submarine groundwater remain unclear. Identifying these sources of nutrients is essential to the protection and management of marine ecological environments. This study aims to evaluate the magnitudes of SGD and the associated nitrate in the Guangdong-Hongkong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GHM Greater Bay Area), China, and identify the sources of SGD-driven nitrate in this region using radioactive radium (Ra) isotopes (223Ra, 224Ra, and 228Ra) and stable nitrogen (N) and oxygen (O) isotope composition of nitrate (δ15N-NO3- and δ18O-NO3-). The results of the Ra mixing model show that the estimated SGD and the associated nitrate fluxes into the Greater Bay Area are (9.15 ± 1.26) × 108 m3/d and (3.77 ± 0.52) × 107 mol/d, respectively, both of which are comparable to the contributions from the Pearl River. Combing NO3- dual isotopic signatures of sampled coastal groundwater and five kinds of potential nitrate sources, we found that ammonium (NH4+) fertilizer and natural soil N are the two main sources of nitrate in discharged submarine groundwater and rivers. No anthropogenic inputs from manure or sewage waste were identified. This study provides significant insights into the establishment of effective management strategies for controlling SGD-nutrients into the bay and protecting the marine ecological environment.

Tracking riverine nitrate sources under changing land use pattern and hydrologic regime.

It remains challenging to identify nitrate sources in streams due to complications associated with anthropogenic inputs and in-stream biogeochemical processes. We used dual isotopic analysis of nitrate and a Bayesian isotope mixing model to explore the dynamics of nitrate sources and their associated transformations among three types of headwater watershed with different dominant land use types during four seasons in Jiulong River Watershed, a coastal China watershed. Nitrogen sources were the primary determinant of the δ15N-NO3 and seasonal differences in biogeochemical processes exhibited among watersheds. Nitrate was mostly derived from nitrification in spring and summer, whereas atmospheric deposition greatly influenced the isotopic composition in autumn and winter. Chemical fertilizer contributed the largest to the riverine nitrate, accounting for 36.9 ± 12.3%, followed by soil N (27.2 ± 4.4%), atmospheric deposition (23.9 ± 11.8%) and manure & sewage (12.0 ± 5.9%). This study reveals the seasonality of riverine nitrate sources under changing watershed land use patterns.

Assessing Seasonal Nitrate Contamination by Nitrate Dual Isotopes in a Monsoon-Controlled Bay with Intensive Human Activities in South China.

Nitrate (NO3-) dual isotope analysis was performed in Zhanjiang Bay, which is a closed bay with intensive human activities in South China, to investigate seasonal changes in the main NO3- sources and their biogeochemical processes in the monsoon-controlled climate. The relatively low N/P ratios in Zhanjiang Bay suggests that nitrogen (N) is a limiting nutrient, which indicates that the increase of N is favorable for phytoplankton proliferation. However, a sufficient amount of ammonium was found in our study area owing to intensive human activities, which can support biological processes. Thus, less NO3- biological processes were found, indicating that NO3- isotopic characteristics may reveal details of the mixing from various sources. The Bayesian mixing model showed that NO3- in the upper bay originated from manure (43%), soil N (30%), N fertilizer (17%), and N precipitation (10%) during winter, which reflects the local human activities; while NO3- sources during summer were mainly N fertilizer (36%), soil N (32%), and manure (31%), indicating the source as the runoff from the upper river basin. Our results suggest that nitrate dual-isotope was very useful for tracing the main NO3- sources in the condition of the sufficient ammonium, and runoff exerted an important impact on the shift in NO3- sources between both the local source and the source from the upper river basin during the two seasons in this monsoon-controlled bay.

Quantitative identification of nitrate sources in the surface runoff of three dominant forest types in subtropical China based on Bayesian model.

Nitrate pollution is a global environmental issue. Forests play an important role in altering hydrological processes and purifying water pollutants in rainfall and runoff. The quantitative identification of nitrate concentration and sources in surface runoff is of great significance for watershed management and water environment improvement. In this study, water quality of surface runoff was monitored in three typical forest types in subtropical eastern China: Phyllostachys pubescens, Cunninghamia lanceolate, and Cyclobalanopsis glauca. Combined with hydrochemical analysis, we adopted the dual isotope approach (δ15N-NO3- and δ18O-NO3-) and Bayesian model (SIAR) to identify nitrate sources in forests that are subject to low anthropogenic disturbance. Results showed that the temporal variability of NO3-N concentrations was similar for all forest types, with higher values in periods of low rainfall and lower values in heavy rainfall periods. The NO3--N concentration in runoff was much higher in C. glauca forests relative to P. pubescens and C. lanceolata. Both the Cl- concentrations and NO3-/Cl- molar ratio suggested the fertilizer inputs was the dominant source of nitrate in surface runoff. In agreement, δ15N-NO3- and δ18O-NO3- values inferred atmospheric deposition and chemical fertilizers to be the main sources of nitrate in all forest types. The Bayesian model outputs demonstrated that atmospheric deposition was the main source in the runoff in P. pubescens and C. lanceolate forests, contributing 28.83% and 35.08% to the total nitrate, respectively. In contrast, chemical fertilizers were identified as the main source in C. glauca forests, with NH4+ fertilizers and NO3- fertilizers accounting for 27.07% and 24.83%, respectively. Both chemical and isotopic analysis indicated that nitrification had little contribution to nitrate concentrations in runoff. Our results suggest that, even in forests with low anthropogenic disturbance, the application of fertilizer in surrounding agricultural regions should be effectively managed to minimize watershed nitrogen contamination.

Determination sources of nitrates into the Three Gorges Reservoir using nitrogen and oxygen isotopes.

Identification of nitrate sources and its transformations are important for the management of large lakes and reservoirs. The Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) in China is one of the largest reservoirs around the world. In this study, stable isotopes of nitrogen (δ15N-NO3-) and oxygen (δ18O-NO3-) of nitrate in water were used to gain insights into nitrate sources and transformations in the tail area of the TGR. Bayesian mixing model has been conducted to estimate the proportional contribute of nitrate sources. The mixing modelling results indicated that NH4+ fertilizer (range 7-54%) and soil organic nitrogen (range 2-45%) were the dominant NO3--N sources in the tail area of the TGR during the three season study period. Nitrification contributed a part of NO3--N in the river water during the dry season. The nitrate from soil solution in the riparian zone with denitrified NO3- might be another major reason for the enrichment of δ15N-NO3- and δ18O-NO3- during the normal season. Reducing the use of chemical nitrogen fertilizers, especially NH4+ fertilizers, and protecting soil from erosion may be effective measures to improve water quality in the TGR.

Use of multiple isotopes to evaluate the impact of mariculture on nutrient dynamics in coastal groundwater.

Nitrogen and phosphate dynamics in groundwater and surface waters (aquaculture ponds and effluents and drainage channels) in the two seasons (April and September 2015) were investigated in a reclaimed coastal region in China. Multiple isotopes (δ15N-NO3-, δ18O-NO3-, δ2H-H2O, and δ18O-H2O) associated with the concentrations of dissolved inorganic nitrogen and phosphate were analyzed to assess the environmental impact of mariculture on coastal waters. Low phosphate concentration in the effluents was released from aquaculture ponds. Nitrate accounted for a larger proportion of dissolved inorganic nitrogen in September in aquaculture ponds and effluents and drainage channels. The groundwater in the mariculture zone was enriched with dissolved nitrogen components. In the offshore direction, seawater and precipitation were supplement of the groundwater, with nitrate deriving from mixing aquaculture effluents and wastewater. Denitrification occurred in groundwater in September 2015.

Evaluation of sources and fate of nitrates in the western Po plain groundwater (Italy) using nitrogen and boron isotopes.

Diffuse nitrate pollution in groundwater is currently considered one of the major causes of water quality degradation. Determining the sources of nitrate contamination is an important first step for a better management of water quality. Thus, the isotopic composition of nitrate (δ15NNO3 and δ18ONO3) and boron (δ11B) were used to evaluate nitrate contamination sources and to identify geochemical processes occurring in the shallow and deep aquifers of the Turin-Cuneo plain (NW Italy). The study area is essentially an agricultural zone, where use of synthetic nitrogenous fertilizers and organic manure is a common practice and the connection to sewer services is locally lacking. Also livestock farming are highly developed. A groundwater sampling campaign was performed on 34 wells in the shallow aquifer and 8 wells in the deep aquifers, to analyze nitrate, chloride, boron, δ15NNO3, δ18ONO3 and δ11B. Isotope data of nitrate indicate that nitrate contamination in the Turin-Cuneo plain originates from mixtures of synthetic and organic sources, slightly affected by denitrification, and manure or septic tank effluents. Moreover, boron isotopes were used to discriminate further among the main anthropogenic sources of pollution. The analyses results confirm that both animal manure and domestic sewage, especially under the city of Turin, can contribute to the nitrate contamination. The isotope analysis was also used for the evaluation of denitrification and nitrification processes: contrary to expectations, a significant denitrification phenomenon was assessed only in the shallow unconfined aquifer, especially in the Poirino Plateau, the most contaminated sector of the study area.

Tracking nitrate sources in the Chaohu Lake, China, using the nitrogen and oxygen isotopic approach.

The Chaohu Lake is highly polluted and suffers from severe eutrophication. Nitrate is a key form of nitrogen that can cause water quality degradation. In this study, hydrochemical and dual isotopic approaches were utilized to identify the seasonal variation of nitrate sources in the Chaohu Lake and its inflowing rivers. The average nitrate concentrations ([NO3-]) of the lake and its inflowing rivers were 89.9 and 140.8 µmol L-1, respectively. The isotopic values of δ15N-NO3- and δ18O-NO3- in the lake ranged from - 1.01 to + 16.67‰ and from - 4.39 to + 22.20‰, respectively. The two major rivers had distinct isotopic compositions, with average δ15N-NO3- values of + 17.52 and + 3.51‰, and average δ18O-NO3- values of + 2.71 and + 7.47‰ for the Nanfei River and Hangbu River, respectively. The results show that soil organic ammonium and urban wastewater discharge were the main sources of nitrate in the Chaohu Lake, and nitrate assimilation was an important process affected [NO3-] and isotopic compositions, especially in the western Chaohu Lake. The elevated [NO3-] and δ15N-NO3- values in the western Chaohu Lake indicate the high influence of human activities. Urban wastewater discharge was the primary nitrate source in the Nanfei River and soil organic ammonium was the main source in the Hangbu River. Although nitrate from direct atmospheric deposition was low, its strong flushing effect can substantially improve riverine [NO3-] and nitrate loading from terrestrial ecosystem. The relatively high nitrate fluxes from the Hangbu River indicate that nitrogen loading from agricultural watershed is unneglectable in watershed nitrogen sources reduction strategies.

A stable isotope approach and its application for identifying nitrate source and transformation process in water.

Nitrate contamination of water is a worldwide environmental problem. Recent studies have demonstrated that the nitrogen (N) and oxygen (O) isotopes of nitrate (NO3(-)) can be used to trace nitrogen dynamics including identifying nitrate sources and nitrogen transformation processes. This paper analyzes the current state of identifying nitrate sources and nitrogen transformation processes using N and O isotopes of nitrate. With regard to nitrate sources, δ(15)N-NO3(-) and δ(18)O-NO3(-) values typically vary between sources, allowing the sources to be isotopically fingerprinted. δ(15)N-NO3(-) is often effective at tracing NO(-)3 sources from areas with different land use. δ(18)O-NO3(-) is more useful to identify NO3(-) from atmospheric sources. Isotopic data can be combined with statistical mixing models to quantify the relative contributions of NO3(-) from multiple delineated sources. With regard to N transformation processes, N and O isotopes of nitrate can be used to decipher the degree of nitrogen transformation by such processes as nitrification, assimilation, and denitrification. In some cases, however, isotopic fractionation may alter the isotopic fingerprint associated with the delineated NO3(-) source(s). This problem may be addressed by combining the N and O isotopic data with other types of, including the concentration of selected conservative elements, e.g., chloride (Cl(-)), boron isotope (δ(11)B), and sulfur isotope (δ(35)S) data. Future studies should focus on improving stable isotope mixing models and furthering our understanding of isotopic fractionation by conducting laboratory and field experiments in different environments.

The impact of mariculture on nutrient dynamics and identification of the nitrate sources in coastal waters.

Reclamation along coastal zones is a method that has been used to relieve the problems of strained resources and land. Aquaculture, as one of the major man-made activities in reclamation areas, has an environmental impact on coastal waters. The effluents from aquaculture ponds are known to enrich the levels of nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphate. The goals of the present study are to evaluate the environmental impact of mariculture on coastal waters in the east coast of Laizhou Bay, China, and to identify the nitrate sources. Monitoring the concentrations of dissolved nitrogen and phosphate was used to assess their impact on the water quality of coastal waters. A dual isotope (δ(15)N-NO3(-) and δ(18)O-NO3(-)) approach was used to identify the nitrate sources. Higher dissolved nitrogen concentrations (NH4(+) and NO3(-)) than PO4(3-) concentrations associated with enriched δ(15)N-NO3(-) values were observed in the drainage channels, sea cucumber ponds, and groundwater, which indicated that aquaculture activity has more influence on nitrogen nutrients than on phosphate nutrients. In this coastal area with seawater intrusion, nitrogen released from sea cucumber ponds accumulated in nearshore water and migrated in the offshore direction in groundwater currents. This behavior results in nitrogen enrichment in groundwater within the hinterland. Isotopic data indicate that mixing of multiple nitrate sources exists in groundwater, and nitrogen from mariculture is the main source.

Assessment of temporal and spatial differences of source apportionment of nitrate in an urban river in China, using δ(15)N and δ(18)O values and an isotope mixing model.

Nitrate contamination in surface water has become an environmental problem widespread concern. In this study, environmental isotopes (δ(15)N-NO3 (-) and δ(18)O-NO3 (-)) and the chemical compositions of water samples from an urban river in Chongqing, China, were analyzed to evaluate the primary sources of nitrate pollution. A Bayesian isotope mixing model was applied to estimate the relative contributions of five potential NO3 (-) sources to river pollution (sewage/manure, soil N, NH4 (+) in fertilizer and precipitation, NO3 (-) fertilizer, and NO3 (-) in precipitation). The results show that the urban river was affected by NO3 (-) pollution from multiple sources. The major sources of NO3 (-) pollution in the dry season were sewage/manure (38-50 %) and soil N (22-26 %); in the wet season, the major sources of NO3 (-) pollution were sewage/manure (30-37 %), soil N (16-25 %), and precipitation (14-24 %). The higher contribution of N to the river water by precipitation indicates that atmospheric N deposition has become an important source of pollution in surface water in China. We conclude that domestic sewage is still the main contributor to NO3 (-) pollution in urban rivers in China. The discharge of domestic sewage into rivers should be prohibited as a priority measure to prevent NO3 (-) contamination.