Characterizing the Oxygen Isotopic Composition of Phosphate Sources to Aquatic Ecosystems

The oxygen isotopic composition of dissolved inorganic phosphate (δ18Op) in many aquatic ecosystems is not in isotopic equilibrium with ambient water and, therefore, may reflect the source δ18Op. Identification of phosphate sources to water bodies is critical for designing best management practices...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental science & technology 2009-07, Vol.43 (14), p.5190-5196
Main Authors: Young, Megan B, McLaughlin, Karen, Kendall, Carol, Stringfellow, William, Rollog, Mark, Elsbury, Katy, Donald, Elizabeth, Paytan, Adina
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Applied sciences
Aquatic ecosystems
Aqueous chemical equilibrium
Characterization of Natural and Affected Environments
Ecosystem
Effluents
Environmental testing
Eutrophication
Exact sciences and technology
Fresh Water
Isotopes
Oxygen Isotopes - analysis
Phosphates - chemistry
Pollution
Sewage - chemistry
Waste Disposal, Fluid
Water Pollutants - analysis
Water Supply - analysis
Water treatment
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Summary:The oxygen isotopic composition of dissolved inorganic phosphate (δ18Op) in many aquatic ecosystems is not in isotopic equilibrium with ambient water and, therefore, may reflect the source δ18Op. Identification of phosphate sources to water bodies is critical for designing best management practices for phosphate load reduction to control eutrophication. In order for δ18Op to be a useful tool for source tracking, the δ18Op of phosphate sources must be distinguishable from one another; however, the δ18Op of potential sources has not been well characterized. We measured the δ18Op of a variety of known phosphate sources, including fertilizers, semiprocessed phosphorite ore, particulate aerosols, detergents, leachates of vegetation, soil, animal feces, and wastewater treatment plant effluent. We found a considerable range of δ18Op values (from +8.4 to +24.9‰) for the various sources, and statistically significant differences were found between several of the source types. δ18Op measured in three different fresh water systems was generally not in equilibrium with ambient water. Although there is overlap in δ18Op values among the groups of samples, our results indicate that some sources are isotopically distinct and δ18Op can be used for identifying phosphate sources to aquatic systems.
ISSN:0013-936X
1520-5851
DOI:10.1021/es900337q