Assessment of nitrate contamination risk: The Italian experience     

E. Capri  M. Civita  A. Corniello  G. Cusimano  M. De Maio  D. Ducci  G. Fait  A. Fiorucci  S. Hauser  A. Pisciotta  G. Pranzini  M. Trevisan  A. Delgado Huertas  F. Ferrari  R. Frullini  B. Nisi  M. Offi  O. Vaselli  M. Vassallo 《Journal of Geochemical Exploration》2009

The purpose of this study is to show the results of the Italian research project of national interest (PRIN) launched in 2006 and finished in 2008, concerning the “assessment of groundwater contamination risk by nitrates assessment”. The project verified the IPNOA method for nitrate groundwater contamination risk assessment in four test-sites of Italy. The IPNOA is a parametric index which assesses the potential hazard of nitrate contamination originating from agriculture on a regional scale. The method integrates two categories of parameters: the hazard factors (HF), which represent all farming activities that cause, or might cause, an impact on soil quality in terms of nitrate (use of fertilisers, application of livestock and poultry manure, food industry wastewater and urban sludge), and the control factors (CF) which adapt the hazard factors to the characteristics of the site (geographical location, climatic conditions and agronomic practices). Finally, the Potential Risk Map is obtained by coupling the potential hazard of nitrate pollution (IPNOA) and the aquifer Contamination Vulnerability Map. The project was carried out by five Research Units (RU) from the Politecnico di Torino, Universities of Piacenza, Florence, Naples and Palermo. The geochemistry of groundwaters from the four test-sites was studied to determine the distribution of nitrate, and to evaluate groundwater chemical facies. All the study areas are affected by groundwater nitrate contamination and often by hydrogeochemical peculiarities. In some cases isotopic study, δ¹⁸O–NO₃δ¹⁵N–NO₃, allowed to differentiate nitrates of chemical fertilisers from those of biological origin, as well as denitrification processes.  相似文献   

Assessing the extent and sources of nitrate contamination in the aquifer system of southern Baldwin County,Alabama   总被引：1，自引：0，他引：1  

Dorina Murgulet  Geoffrey R. Tick 《Environmental Geology》2009,58(5):1051-1065

A regional-scale groundwater study was conducted over a 2-year period to assess the extent of nitrate contamination and source identification for southern Baldwin County, AL. Groundwater wells were sampled and analyzed for nitrate and a host of other geochemical parameters which revealed that extensive areas within aquifer zone A2 exhibited nitrate concentrations exceeding regulatory limits. Spatial iso-concentration maps of nitrate were constructed using ArcGIS software to determine the extent and severity of contamination for the aquifers underlying southern Baldwin County with the primary interest focused on the heavily utilized aquifer zone A2. Nitrate levels in the central and northeastern portion of the study area were most extensive with maximum concentrations of 63 mg/L likely resulting from agricultural inputs. Several other small regions throughout the study area exhibited elevated levels of nitrate and chloride as high as 112 and 51.1 mg/L, respectively, and sources likely vary (i.e., residential septic systems, animal waste to agriculture). With the exception of a few groundwater samples, there was no obvious correlative relationship between chloride and nitrate concentration for data collected during the 2-year period. Collectively, a general inverse relationship between nitrate concentrations and well depth was observed for the aquifer system under investigation. The study provides an initial current data set of areas impacted or most vulnerable to nitrate contamination and initial assessment of likely sources of nitrate in the region.  相似文献   

大气硝酸盐中氮氧稳定同位素研究进展   总被引：1，自引：1，他引：0  

秦瑞  史贵涛  陈振楼 《地球科学进展》2019,(2):124-139

受人类活动和工农业快速发展的影响,大气硝酸盐(NO_3^-)污染越来越严重且已成为世界范围内的环境问题之一。探究大气NO_3^-的稳定同位素组成(δ15N,δ18O和Δ17O),可以为深入理解大气氮循环、有效控制大气NO_3^-污染提供有力依据。综述了目前大气NO_3^-不同来源NOx的δ15N值、NO_3^-的δ15N季节变化特征及主要影响因素,总结了大气中不同氧化剂的δ18O值和Δ17O值,归纳了全球范围内部分大气NO_3^-中δ18O值和Δ17O值的时空分布特征及可能影响因素,回顾了NO_3^-同位素分析测试技术的主要进展,在前期工作基础上提出未来大气NO_3^-稳定同位素研究应更多关注NO_3^-的氧化生成机制(不同类型氧化剂同位素组成时空差异)、不同NOx来源的δ15N组成、借助化学模型开展大气NO_3^-循环过程等方面的研究。  相似文献   

Review of the Study on the Stable Isotopes of Nitrogen and Oxygen in Atmospheric Nitrate     

Rui Qin  Guitao Shi  Zhenlou Chen 《地球科学进展》2019,34(2):124-139

Due to the emissions from intensive human activities and rapid development of industry and agriculture, atmospheric nitrate (NO {}_3^{-} ) contamination is becoming more serious and now is a worldwide environmental problem. The isotopic compositions of NO {}_3^{-} (δ¹⁵N, δ¹⁸O and Δ¹⁷O) can deliver more information than the concentration alone, i.e., the nitrogen and oxygen isotopes can suggest the sources of NO {}_3^{-} and oxidation capability of the atmosphere, providing a powerful tool for investigating atmospheric nitrogen cycling and atmospheric NO {}_3^{-} pollution control. The δ¹⁵N of different sourced NO {}_3^{-} in the atmosphere, as well as the seasonal variation of δ¹⁵N (NO {}_3^{-} ) and the associated mechanisms were reviewed. In addition, the oxygen isotopes of various oxidants and NO {}_3^{-} (δ¹⁸O and Δ¹⁷O) in the atmosphere were summarized, and the global distribution patterns of the oxygen isotopes of NO {}_3^{-} were discussed. Lastly, the available analysis techniques of isotopic compositions of NO {}_3^{-} were reviewed. Based on the research progress of NO {}_3^{-} isotopes in the atmosphere, it was suggested that further investigations should focus on measuring the isotopic compositions of oxidants and NOx from different sources, characterizing the production mechanisms of NO {}_3^{-} , as well as investigating chemical recycling between NOx and NO {}_3^{-} with the aid of atmospheric chemical models.  相似文献   

Sources and sinks of nutrients in a New Zealand hill pasture catchment III. Nitrogen     

James G. Cooke  A. Bryce Cooper 《水文研究》1988,2(2):135-149

A study was made of the nitrogen (N) inputs to, and exports from, a stream draining a pasture catchment near Hamilton, New Zealand, in order to plan measures for minimizing N losses to natural waters. An estimated 7 kg N ha^?1 was exported from the catchment during 1981 of which 86 per cent was in reduced forms (Kjeldahl-N, TKN) and the remainder as nitrate-N (NO₃-N). Virtually all of the reduced N inputs came from saturated overland flow whereas NO₃-N inputs were dominantly subsurface derived. The TKN exported by individual storm events could be predicted (R² = 0.97) from peak flow and from the peak flow rate in the seven days preceding the storm. A TKN balance for eight events showed that except for large floods (return period approximately a year) the stream system was a net sink for TKN. During large floods, scouring of the organic rich seepage areas resulted in the stream system itself being a net source of TKN. Microbial assays for nitrification and denitrification activity indicated that the main nitrate source was the well-aerated greywacke and ash soils and that the permanently saturated seepage zones were a significant nitrate sink. An in-stream nitrate addition experiment showed that up to 20mg N m^?2 h^?1 was removed from the stream. Simultaneous measurements of in situ denitrification activity demonstrated that only about 1 per cent of this removal could be accounted for by denitrification. It was inferred that plant uptake was responsible for the remainder. Retention of near-stream seepage areas is suggested as a measure for minimizing NO₃-N export, whilst removal of stock from seasonally saturated areas during periods of saturatior should reduce soil loss and hence TKN inputs to the stream.  相似文献   

Concentrations of contaminants in surface water samples collected in west-central Indiana impacted by acidic mine drainage   总被引：1，自引：0，他引：1  

S. K. Allen  J. M. Allen  S. Lucas 《Environmental Geology》1996,27(1):34-37

The results of analyses of surface waters collected from a variety of locations in west-central Indiana indicate extensive contamination by acidic mine drainage. These samples had pH values as low as 2.1 and total iron concentrations as high as 1200 mg1^–1. The speciation of iron, expressed as the ratio [Fe(II)]/[Fe(III)] ranged from 0.08 to 8.27. Measured lead concentrations were as high as 811 mgl^–1. In addition, the concentrations of nitrate and sulfate ions were as high as 359 and 624 mgl^–1, respectively.  相似文献   

Contamination of groundwater under cultivated fields in an arid environment, central Arava Valley, Israel   总被引：11，自引：0，他引：11  

O. Oren  Y. Yechieli  J. K. Bhlke  A. Dody 《Journal of Hydrology》2004,290(3-4):312-328

The purpose of this study is to obtain a better understanding of groundwater contamination processes in an arid environment (precipitation of 50 mm/year) due to cultivation. Additional aims were to study the fate of N, K, and other ions along the whole hydrological system including the soil and vadose zone, and to compare groundwater in its natural state with contaminated groundwater (through the drilling of several wells).

A combination of physical, chemical, and isotopic analyses was used to describe the hydrogeological system and the recharge trends of water and salts to the aquifers. The results indicate that intensive irrigation and fertilization substantially affected the quantity and quality of groundwater recharge. Low irrigation efficiency of about 50% contributes approximately 3.5–4 million m³/year to the hydrological system, which corresponds to 0.65 m per year of recharge in the irrigated area, by far the most significant recharge mechanism.

Two main contamination processes were identified, both linked to human activity: (1) salinization due to circulation of dissolved salts in the irrigation water itself, mainly chloride, sulfate, sodium and calcium, and (2) direct input of nitrate and potassium mainly from fertilizers.

The nitrate concentrations in a local shallow groundwater lens range between 100 and 300 mg/l and in the upper sub-aquifer are over 50 mg/l. A major source of nitrate is fertilizer N in the excess irrigation water. The isotopic compositions of δ¹⁵N–NO₃ (range of 4.9–14.8‰) imply also possible contributions from nearby sewage ponds and/or manure. Other evidence of contamination of the local groundwater lens includes high concentrations of K (20–120 mg/l) and total organic carbon (about 10 mg/l).  相似文献   

Spatial and temporal changes in the structure of groundwater nitrate concentration time series (1935–1999) as demonstrated by autoregressive modelling     

A.L. Jones  P.L. Smart   《Journal of Hydrology》2005,310(1-4):201-215

Autoregressive modelling is used to investigate the internal structure of long-term (1935–1999) records of nitrate concentration for five karst springs in the Mendip Hills. There is a significant short term (1–2 months) positive autocorrelation at three of the five springs due to the availability of sufficient nitrate within the soil store to maintain concentrations in winter recharge for several months. The absence of short term (1–2 months) positive autocorrelation in the other two springs is due to the marked contrast in land use between the limestone and swallet parts of the catchment, rapid concentrated recharge from the latter causing short term switching in the dominant water source at the spring and thus fluctuating nitrate concentrations. Significant negative autocorrelation is evident at lags varying from 4 to 7 months through to 14–22 months for individual springs, with positive autocorrelation at 19–20 months at one site. This variable timing is explained by moderation of the exhaustion effect in the soil by groundwater storage, which gives longer residence times in large catchments and those with a dominance of diffuse flow. The lags derived from autoregressive modelling may therefore provide an indication of average groundwater residence times. Significant differences in the structure of the autocorrelation function for successive 10-year periods are evident at Cheddar Spring, and are explained by the effect the ploughing up of grasslands during the Second World War and increased fertiliser usage on available nitrogen in the soil store. This effect is moderated by the influence of summer temperatures on rates of mineralization, and of both summer and winter rainfall on the timing and magnitude of nitrate leaching. The pattern of nitrate leaching also appears to have been perturbed by the 1976 drought.  相似文献   

Nitrate temporal and spatial patterns in 12 water-supply wells, Yucatan, Mexico     

J. Pacheco  Luis Marín  Armando Cabrera  Birgit Steinich  Oscar Escolero 《Environmental Geology》2001,40(6):708-715

 The nitrate concentration in 12 water-supply wells were monitored for the period April 1992 to March 1993. Each water-supply well was sampled once a month. The nitrate concentrations in the 12 wells ranged from 7 to 156 mg/l. Two water-supply wells (Chacsinkin and Peto) showed concentrations that reached 3.5 times the maximum permissible limit for the Drinking Water Standard (45 mg/l). A third water-supply well (Akil) exceeds the norm for 7 out of 12 months. The use of nitrogen-rich fertilizers are responsible for high nitrate concentrations in groundwater in the southern part of Yucatan, Mexico where intensive agricultural practices exist. Received: 14 December 1999 · Accepted: 2 May 2000  相似文献   

Contrast of evolution models for agricultural contaminants in ground waters by means of fuzzy logic and data mining     

J.M. Andujar  J. Aroba  M.L. la de Torre  J.A. Grande 《Environmental Geology》2006,49(3):458-466

This work aims at contrasting, by means of a set of fuzzy logic- and data mining-based algorithms, the functioning model of a detritic aquifer undergoing overexploitation and nitrate excess input coming from strawberry and citrus intensive crops in its recharge zone. To provide researchers unskilled in data mining techniques with an easy and intuitive interpretation, the authors have developed a computer tool based on fuzzy logic that allows immediate qualitative analysis of the data contained in a data mass from the water chemical analyses, and serves as a contrast to functioning models previously proposed with classical statistics. M.L. de la Torre and J.A. Grande belongs to Water Resources and Quality Research Group. J.M. Andujar and J. Aroba belongs to Control and Robotics Research Group  相似文献