Project Type
Coordinated Research Project
Project Code
F32007
CRP
2134
Approved Date
12 May 2015
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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/10.1007/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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
