Determination of dominant sources of nitrate contamination in transboundary (Russian Federation/Ukraine) catchment with heterogeneous land use

0479825 - BC 2018 RIV NL eng J - Journal Article
Vystavna, Yuliya - Diadin, D. - Grynenko, V. - Yakovlev, V. - Vergeles, Y. - Huneau, F. - Rossi, P. M. - Hejzlar, Josef - Knoeller, K.
Determination of dominant sources of nitrate contamination in transboundary (Russian Federation/Ukraine) catchment with heterogeneous land use.
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment. Roč. 189, č. 10 (2017), č. článku 509. ISSN 0167-6369. E-ISSN 1573-2959
Institutional support: RVO:60077344
Keywords : nitrate isotopes * land use * multivariate statistics * Ukraine * anthropogenic sources * Seversky Donets
OECD category: Environmental sciences (social aspects to be 5.7)
Impact factor: 1.804, year: 2017

Nitrate contamination of surface water and shallow groundwater was studied in transboundary (Russia/Ukraine) catchment with heterogeneous land use. Dominant sources of nitrate contamination were determined by applying a dual delta N-15-NO3 and delta O-18-NO3 isotope approach, multivariate statistics, and land use analysis. Nitrate concentration was highly variable from 0.25 to 22 mg L-1 in surface water and from 0.5 to 100 mg L-1 in groundwater. The applied method indicated that sewage to surface water and sewage and manure to groundwater were dominant sources of nitrate contamination. Nitrate/chloride molar ratio was added to support the dual isotope signature and indicated the contribution of fertilizers to the nitrate content in groundwater. Groundwater temperature was found to be an additional indicator of manure and sewerage leaks in the shallow aquifer which has limited protection and is vulnerable to groundwater pollution.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0275750