Isotopes to Study Nitrogen Pollution and Eutrophication of Rivers and Lakes

Closed for proposals

Project Type

Coordinated Research Project

Project Code

F32007

CRP

2134

Approved Date

12 May 2015

Status

Closed

Start Date

22 February 2016

Expected End Date

21 February 2020

Completed Date

12 December 2022

Participating Countries

Cuba

Description

Water quality in thousands of lakes and rivers around the globe is deteriorating due to rising nutrient levels and other chemical pollutants mainly of anthropogenic origin (e.g., agriculture, sewage, industrial discharges, urban areas) causing changes in their ecological structure and function. The excessive nitrogen pollution (nitrate, ammonium) of surface waters has resulted in change of oligotrophic water bodies to eutrophic and sometimes to hypertrophic states. Environmental isotopes are used not only to assess hydrological processes in terms of surface water quantity, but also to address water quality issues, such as nitrogen pollution. This CRP aims to improve the suite of isotopic markers combined with other chemical / biological substances to better define the possible sources and re-cycling of nitrogen pollution in surface water bodies. The CRP aims to deepening the knowledge on the temporal (diel, seasonal) and in-depth variation of nitrogen isotope data, combined with additional substances, as deeper water bodies may sometimes prevent a complete understanding of nitrogen isotope dynamics from surface water collections. Moreover, improving conventional and promoting new methodologies on nitrogen species isotopic characteristics is expected to facilitate access to a more routine and low-cost use of nitrogen and oxygen isotope data of nitrogen species. Overall, the CRP will aim at improving the capability and expertise among participating Member States in the use of environmental isotopes to better assess the impact of nitrogen pollution and eutrophication on surface water resources availability and sustainability.

Objectives

To improve capability and expertise among Member States in the use environmental isotopes to better assess impacts of nitrogen pollution on water resources variability, availability and sustainability.

Specific objectives

Assess and improve the interpretation of hydrological processes, sources, interactions and pathways in rivers and lakes.

Assess and improve the suite of isotopes and other chemical and/or biological indicators to evaluate the environmental and anthropogenic impact on surface waters in terms of identifying more accurately the multiple sources of nitrogen pollution and eutrophication.

Assess and improve the understanding and interpretation of N-nutrient dynamics, eutrophication and sediment transport in lakes and rivers.

Explore improved analytical methods of N-related isotope parameters in order to facilitate access to isotope data of nitrogen species and build greater confidence in assessments of nitrogen pollution issues of surface waters.

Impact

The project had a significant impact in the participating countries. In 7 countries it was the first time that N-isotopes were ever applied to assess impact of nitrogen pollution on water resources variability, availability and sustainability. New and young researchers have benefited from their involvement in the project (e.g. Malaysia) though Master’s and PhD theses and were introduced on the use of isotope hydrology techniques. The participants were able to publish their findings in conferences and peer-reviewed journals, which is ample evidence of the improved capability and expertise in the use of environmental isotopes to better assess impacts of nitrogen pollution on water resources variability, availability and sustainability, and which is expected to help the stakeholders adopt protective measures and sound remediation approaches. A large dataset of nitrate isotopes was introduced in GNIR database and is available to Member States. Scientifically-wise, the project offered the identification of global patterns related to nitrate isotopes, which were linked to nitrate sources and biogeochemical processes driven by climatic and meteorological factors. For example, the project showed that river waters undergo quality deterioration due to nitrogen contamination originating mainly from organic nitrogen in manure and septic wastes (46%) and less from dissolved organic matter in the soil (28%) and the application of mineral fertilizers (21%). The link between N cycling and climate was documented through a global survey, and is expected to help further investigate climate change impact on nitrogen cycle. The perception of the locals concerning the water scarcity and contamination was examined through a socio-hydrogeological survey, which indicated “Supply clean water to public” as the main objective of water management in Sri Lanka.

Relevance

The scientific and hydrological results of the CRP clearly demonstrated that the recent developments in field (simpler sampling protocols) and laboratory (use of cheaper, easier to use titanium chloride sample preparation and use of laser absorption spectrometers) methods allow the routine use of this tracer to assess nitrate pollution in a variety of hydrological and climatic settings. The CRP has developed SOP for both field and laboratory methods, ready to be transferred to counterparts involved in both CRPs and TC projects.

CRP Publications

Type

Chapter

Year

2020

Publication URL

http://hdl.handle.net/102.100.100/367053?index=1

Description

The effect of Yedoma soils on nitrogen dynamics in the Lena River

Country/Organization

University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland

Type

Journal Article

Year

2020

Publication URL

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138211

Description

Origin, implications and management strategies for nitrate pollution in surface and ground waters of Anthemountas basin based on a d15N-NO3- and d18O-NO3- isotope approach

Country/Organization

Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, School of Geology, Thessaloniki, Greece

Type

Journal Article

Year

2020

Publication URL

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2019.01.044

Description

Spatial distribution of d18O values of water in the Ganga river basin: Insight into the hydrological processes

Country/Organization

Centre for Climate and Environmental studies, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, India

Type

Journal Article

Year

2018

Publication URL

https://doi.org/10.1080/20442041.2018.1457847

Description

Spatial variation of nitrogen cycling in a subtropical stratified impoundment in southwest China, elucidated by nitrous oxide isotopomer and nitrate isotopes

Country/Organization

Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, China; Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China

Type

Journal Article

Year

2019

Publication URL

https://doi.org/10.1002/rcm.8454

Description

A Ti(III) reduction method for one-step conversion of seawater and freshwater nitrate into N2O for stable isotopic analysis of 15N/14N, 18O/16O and 17O/16O

Country/Organization

IAEA

Type

Journal Article

Year

2020

Publication URL

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134517

Description

Nitrate sources and processes in the surface water of a tropical reservoir by stable isotopes and mixing model

Country/Organization

School of Industrial Technology, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Malaysia

Type

Journal Article

Year

2020

Publication URL

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.136909

Description

A biological and nitrate isotopic assessment framework to understand eutrophication in aquatic ecosystems

Country/Organization

Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (UNMdP-CONICET), FCEyN, Argentina

Type

Journal Article

Year

2020

Publication URL

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jconhyd.2020.103658

Description

Nitrate contamination and source apportionment in surface and groundwater in Ghana using dual isotopes (15N and 18O-NO3) and a Bayesian isotope mixing model

Country/Organization

Graduate School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences, Atomic Energy Commission, Accra, Ghana

Type

Journal Article

Year

2017

Publication URL

https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.analchem.7b00028

Description

Opening Opportunities for High-Resolution Isotope Analysis - Quantification of d15NNO3 and d18ONO3 in Diffusive Equilibrium in Thin–Film Passive Samplers

Country/Organization

British Geological Survey (BGS), Maclean Building, Wallingford, UK

Type

Journal Article

Year

2020

Publication URL

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10533-020-00663-w

Description

Stable isotopes as an effective tool for N nutrient source identification in a heavily urbanized and agriculturally intensive tropical lowland basin

Country/Organization

Institute of Chemistry, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Vietnam

Type

Report

Year

2020

Description

Effect of transitory storage zone on Nitrogen dynamic. A case study from a heavily cropped territory in Chiles’ Central Valley

Country/Organization

Universidad de Concepción, Chile

Type

report

Year

2020

Description

Isotope Investigation on Eutrophication of Rivers and Lakes under Stressed Conditions; Lake Gregory and River Kelani in Sri Lanka

Country/Organization

Isotope Hydrology Section, Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Board, Orugodawatta, Wellampitiya, Sri Lanka

Type

Journal Article

Year

2019

Publication URL

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apradiso.2019.108859

Description

Assessment of water quality and nitrate source in the Massa catchment (Morocco) using d15N and d18O tracers

Country/Organization

Applied Geology and Geo-Environment Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences, Ibn Zohr University, Morocco

Type

Journal Article

Year

2021

Publication URL

https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-021-00121-x

Description

Global patterns of nitrate isotope composition in rivers and adjacent aquifers reveal reactive nitrogen cascading

Country/Organization

IAEA

Type

Report

Year

2020

Description

Nitrogen pollution in large river system: A case study in the river Ganga, India

Country/Organization

Centre for Climate and Environmental studies, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, India

Type

Journal Article

Year

2018

Publication URL

https://doi.org/10.21315/jps2018.29.s3.1

Description

Application of Nitrate Stable Isotopes, d15N-NO3- and d18O-NO3-, in Bukit Merah Reservoir, Malaysia

Country/Organization

School of Industrial Technology, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Malaysia

Type

Report

Year

2020

Description

Nitrogen and Oxygen isotopes of dissolved nitrates, results obtained from the first experience in Cuba

Country/Organization

Centro de Estudios Ambientales de Cienfuegos (CEAC), Cuba

Type

Journal Article

Year

2020

Description

Tracking sources and fate of groundwater nitrate in Kisumu city and Kano plains, Kenya

Country/Organization

Isotope Bioscience Laboratory - ISOFYS, Department of Green Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium

Type

Conference

Year

2017

Publication URL

https://hdl.handle.net/2268/215544

Description

Carbon and nutrients sources and transformation in the River Sabaki, Kenya

Country/Organization

Kenya

Type

Journal Article

Year

2020

Publication URL

https://doi.org/10.3390/w12010167

Description

Determining the impact of riparian wetlands on nutrient cycling, storage and export in permeable agricultural catchments

Country/Organization

British Geological Survey (BGS), Maclean Building, Wallingford, UK

Type

Journal Article

Year

2019

Publication URL

https://doi.org/10.1139/facets-2018-0028

Description

Quantifying the Fate of Wastewater Nitrogen Discharged to a Canadian River

Country/Organization

Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

Type

Journal Article

Year

2021

Publication URL

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145688

Description

A critical assessment of widely used techniques for nitrate source apportionment in arid and semi-arid regions

Country/Organization

Department of Earth Sciences, University of Pisa, and Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Pavia, Italy

Type

Journal Article

Year

2022

Publication URL

https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology9030045

Description

An Analysis of the Effects of Large Wildfires on the Hydrology of Three Small Catchments in Central Chile Using Tritium-Based Measurements and Hydrological Metrics

Country/Organization

Universidad de Concepción, Chile

Type

Chapter

Year

2018

Publication URL

https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-69356-9_30

Description

Isotopic and Chemical Tracers for the Sustainable Management of Water Resources in Semi-arid Area: Case of Massa Catchment, Morocco

Country/Organization

Applied Geology and Geo-Environment Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences, Ibn Zohr University, Morocco

Type

Report

Year

2020

Description

Squaring the cycle: the INTEgration of GROundwater processes in Nutrient budgets for a basin-oriented remediation strategy (INTEGRON)

Country/Organization

Italyian counterpart

Type

Journal Article

Year

2018

Publication URL

https://doi.org/10.1039/c8em00445e

Description

Nitrate dynamics during impoundment and flood periods in a subtropical karst reservoir: Hongfeng Lake, Southwestern China

Country/Organization

Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, China; Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China

Type

Journal Article

Year

2021

Publication URL

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2021.107328

Description

Nitrate ?17O tracer method for determining gross nitrification rates

Country/Organization

USA

Type

Conference

Year

2020

Publication URL

https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu2020-22154

Description

A global synthesis of dual nitrate isotope values in rivers and groundwaters

Country/Organization

IAEA

Type

Journal Article

Year

2020

Publication URL

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10533-020-00644-z

Description

Seasonal variability of sediment controls of nitrogen cycling in an agricultural stream

Country/Organization

British Geological Survey (BGS), Maclean Building, Wallingford, UK

Type

Journal Article

Year

2019

Publication URL

https://doi.org/10.1080/10256016.2020.1724999

Description

Land use controls Kenyan riverine nitrate discharge into Lake Victoria - Evidence from Nyando, Nzoia and Sondu Miriu river catchments

Country/Organization

Isotope Bioscience Laboratory - ISOFYS, Department of Green Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium

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