Evaluation of the origin of sulphate at the groundwater source Kljuc, Serbia.

The dual-isotope method of measuring both the δ(34)S and δ(18)O values of dissolved sulphate to assess the origin and fate of groundwater sulphate at the Kljuc groundwater source, Serbia is applied. A sampling campaign was conducted in September 2007 during low-flow conditions, obtaining river water and groundwater from observation wells completed in a shallow aquifer formed in alluvial sandy-gravelly sediments. In the shallow groundwater, sulphate concentrations ranged from 56.2 to 165.0 mg l(-1). The δ(34)S values of sulphate varied from-5.5 to+3.0 ‰ and [Formula: see text] values from+1.4 to+4.2 ‰. Oxidation of pedospheric (organic soil S) and lithogenic sulphur sources (e.g. pyrite) were identified as the main causes for the increasing sulphate concentrations in the analysed groundwater. This study shows that combining hydrological, chemical, and isotopic techniques is a powerful approach to identifying sources and processes that control sulphate in water resources.

Evaluation of the origin of nitrate influencing the Kljuc groundwater source, Serbia.

This paper describes the use of the dual isotope method involving δ(15)N and δ(18)O measurements of dissolved nitrates to assess the origin and fate of groundwater nitrate at the Kljuc groundwater source, Serbia. A sampling campaign was conducted in September 2007 during flow conditions obtaining groundwater from observation wells and river water fed by a shallow aquifer hosted in alluvial (sandy-gravel) sediments. Nitrate isotope ratios ranged from +5.3 to +16.9‰ and δ(18)O(NO(3)) values varied from -2.3 to +5.0‰. Two major contamination sources were identified with isotopic compositions characteristic for nitrate derived from nitrification of soil organic nitrogen (+5.3 to +7.8‰ for δ(15)N) resulting in nitrate concentrations of 33.6 and 78.8 mg/L and nitrate derived from animal wastes or human sewage, e.g. via septic systems, yielding δ(15)N values of +9.9 to +11.9‰ and elevated nitrate concentrations of 31.2-245.8 mg/L. The occurrence of nitrification and denitrification was also revealed based on concentration and isotope data for dissolved nitrate.

Spatial and temporal variability of stable isotopes and biological parameters for the Danube River in Serbia.

This paper presents the results of hydrological, physicochemical, biological, and isotopic investigations of the Danube River along the stretch through Serbian territory conducted during four campaigns in September and November 2007, September 2008 and April 2009. The stable isotope values exhibited significant changes both in the Danube (-10.7 to-9.5 per thousand for delta(18)O and-73.7 to-67.1 per thousand for delta(2)H) and in its tributaries (-9.1 to-8.5 per thousand for delta(18)O and-69.4 to-59.4 per thousand for delta(2)H) depending on the time of survey, which could be partly attributed to the influences of seasonal effects. Results emphasise the dominant role of tributaries inflows from aquifers along the Danube. The very narrow range of delta(13)C(POC) (from-28.9 to-27.4 per thousand) was associated with relatively high C/N ratios (C/N>9), and together with delta(15)N(TPN) values, the date suggested that, in early spring, a major fraction of particulate organic matter was derived from allochthonous matter. An orthogonal varimax rotation of the principal components analysis identified four latent factors ('mineral related', 'biological', 'hardness', and 'soil inlets') which are responsible for the data structure covering 79% of the observed variations among the variables studied. A reliable grouping of samples with respect to the season was found.

Distribution of stable isotopes in surface water along the Danube River in Serbia.

Stable hydrogen and oxygen isotopes were analysed in water samples from the River Danube and its tributaries during a longitudinal survey performed in August 2005 on Serbian territory. Danube river water data ranged from-80 per thousand to-66 per thousand for delta2H, and from-11.2 per thousand to-9.3 per thousand for delta18O with delta values increasing downstream. The isotopic signatures of the adjacent tributaries (the Tisza, the Sava and the Velika Morava) sampled at the locations close to their confluence with the Danube (Titel, Ostruznica and Ljubicevski most, respectively) just about the time of the campaign were enriched (-67 per thousand and-63 per thousand for delta2H, and-9.3 per thousand and-8.9 per thousand for delta18O) with respect to the Danube water because of their catchment effects. Hydrogen and oxygen stable isotope values were used in combination with measured physico-chemical and biological parameters to trace hydrological and transport processes in these river systems. The mixing relationships between the Danube main stream and its tributaries were estimated using the mass balance for isotopic composition and electrical conductivity as conservative parameters. Evidence of an incomplete mixing process at the Centa location, 8 km below the confluence of the Tisza river, with its participation of 88% was shown by its oxygen-18 content. The correlations between river water isotope composition and physico-chemical and biological parameters are discussed.

Isotopic characteristics of meteoric waters in the Belgrade region.

The stable isotope composition of hydrogen (delta(2)H) and oxygen (delta(18)O) in monthly precipitation and river water (Sava River and Danube) samples in the Belgrade area gathered between 1992 and 2005 are determined. The local meteoric water line delta(2)H=7.8 (+/-0.2) delta(18)O+7.3(+/-1.6) (r(2)=0.98, n=60, sigma=0.52) for the whole period of observation is close to the global meteoric water line. The amount-weighted mean delta(2)H and delta(18)O values of precipitation were-65+/-27 per thousand and-9.4+/-3.4 per thousand, respectively. Good correlation between delta(18)O values (r approximately >0.67) and ambient temperature and relative humidity was obtained. Stream-water data ranged from-94 to-60 per thousand for delta(2)H and from-11.0 to approximately 5.7 per thousand for delta(18)O with highly statistically significant difference (p>0.01) between the Sava River and the Danube. In addition, the isotopic compositions of local precipitation and adjacent river water at monitoring sites were compared. Obtained data will give an opportunity to improve the knowledge of mixing stream water and local groundwater, and assessment of potential groundwater risks and pressures in the Belgrade basin.

Potential use of environmental isotopes in pollutant migration studies.

This article presents the use of natural abundance stable isotope (hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, chlorine) analysis data as a tool for providing important information about the origin of contaminants, the contribution of different sources to a multi-source plume, characterisation of their complex transport (rate and mechanisms) and for evaluating the success of contaminated site remediation. Isotopic signatures of contaminants are useful tracers of their sources, while isotopic fractionation can be used to quantitatively assess the progress of an environmental process such as biodegradation. This new isotopic approach is reliable and can offer more information than traditional techniques in pollutant migration studies, particularly after waste disposal. During biological degradation of any organic compound, molecules containing lighter isotopes are degraded, and the portion of heavier isotopes in the substrate is increased, identifying specific microbial roles in biogeochemical cycling. Since isotopic fractionation is proportional to degradation, depending on the type of contamination, a microbial degradation of 50% to 99% of the initial concentration can be quantified using isotope ratio measurements.

Mobility of heavy metals originating from bombing of industrial sites.

Surface soil samples from the "NIS Jugopetrol" fuel storage sites has been studied. The aim of this work has been the detection of heavy and inorganic metals including As, Pb, Cd, Ni, Zn, Cr, and Cu in soils after bombing present due to outflow, burning or leaking of crude oil and oil products at five chosen locations: Belgrade-Cukarica, Smederevo, Nis, Bor and Prahovo. In order to get information of the future environmental and health risks, sampling was repeated after several months at the same locations. Certain locations present a threat on environment because of the possible transport of contaminants during higher water levels.