Sources of nitrate in the Arno River waters: Constraints from d15N and d18O
Running waters in anthropogenically affected areas are susceptible to nitrate contamination. Source identification is a fundamental step for the development of effective remediation. Previous studies pointed to pollution by nitrogen-bearing contaminants in the Arno Basin. In this paper, eleven surface water samples have been analysed for main and trace components and 15N/14N and 18O/16O ratios, with the aim of identifying for the first time the origin of nitrate in the Arno River Basin so that further investigations can appropriately be designed. d18O(NO3)and d15N(NO3) values have allowed to hypothesise the main sources of nitrate, as follows: i) mineralized fertilizer, ii) soil-organic nitrogen, iii) manure and septic waste. The anomalously high d15N and d18O values in the Chiana (d15N=24.9‰ and d18O=15.5‰) and Usciana tributaries (d15N=30.1‰ and d18O=7.2‰) show a low probability of belonging to the same population as that of the other samples and can be related to denitrification process of nitrate from animal waste/sewage and/or an industrial process (e.g. tanneries).
Citation Information
Publication Year | 2005 |
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Title | Sources of nitrate in the Arno River waters: Constraints from d15N and d18O |
Authors | Barbara Nisi, Orlando Vaselli, Antonella Buccianti, Steven R. Silva |
Publication Type | Article |
Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
Series Title | GeoActa |
Index ID | 70027388 |
Record Source | USGS Publications Warehouse |