Atacama perchlorate as an agricultural contaminant in groundwater: Isotopic and chronologic evidence from Long Island, New York

Bohlke, J. K.; Hatzinger, P. B.; Sturchio, N. C.; Gu, B.; Abbene, I.; Mroczkowski, S. J.

Abstract:

Perchlorate (ClO₄^-) is a common groundwater constituent with both synthetic and natural sources. A potentially important source of ClO₄^- is past agricultural application of ClO₄^--bearing natural NO₃^- fertilizer imported from the Atacama Desert, Chile, but evidence for this hasbeenlargely circumstantial. Here we report ClO₄^- stable isotope data (??³⁷Cl, ??¹⁸O, and ??¹⁷O), along with other supporting chemical and isotopic environmental tracer data, to document groundwater ClO₄^- contamination sources and history in parts of Long Island, New York. Sampled groundwaters were oxic and ClO₄^- apparently was not affected by biodegradation within the aquifers. Synthetic ClO₄^- was indicated by the isotopic method in groundwater near a fireworks disposal site at a former missile base. Atacama ClO₄^- was indicated in agricultural and urbanizing areas in groundwaters with apparent ages >20 years. In an agricultural area, ClO₄^- concentrations and ClO₄^-/NO₃^- ratios increased withgroundwaterage, possiblybecauseof decreasing application rates of Atacama NO₃^- fertilizers and/or decreasing ClO₄^- concentrations in Atacama NO ₃^- fertilizers in recent years. Because ClO ₄^-/NO₃^- ratios of Atacama NO ₃^- fertilizers imported in the past (???2 ?? 10^-3 mol mol^-1) were much higher than the ClO ₄^-/NO₃^- ratio of recommended drinking-water limits (7 ?? 10^-5 mol mol^-1 in New York), ClO₄^- could exceed drinkingwater limits even where NO₃^- does not, and where Atacama NO₃^- was only a minor source of N. Groundwater ClO₄^- with distinctive isotopic composition was a sensitive indicator of past Atacama NO₃^- fertilizer use on Long Island and may be common in other areas that received NO₃^- fertilizers from the late 19th century through the 20th century. ?? 2009 American Chemical Society.

Genre:

Article

ProdID:

70036660

Citation Author:

Bohlke, J. K.; Hatzinger, P. B.; Sturchio, N. C.; Gu, B.; Abbene, I.; Mroczkowski, S. J.

Citation Contributing Office:

Citation Datum:

Citation Day:

Citation Edition:

Citation Editor:

Citation End Page:

5625

Citation Issue:

Citation Keywords:

Citation Language:

English

Citation Larger Work Title:

Environmental Science and Technology

Citation LatN:

Citation LatS:

Citation LonE:

Citation LonW:

Citation Month:

Citation No Pagination:

Citation Number Of Pages:

Citation Online Only Flag:

Citation Phsyical Description:

Citation Projection:

Citation Public Comments:

Citation Publisher:

Citation Series:

Citation Series Code:

Citation Series Number:

Citation Search Results Text:

Atacama perchlorate as an agricultural contaminant in groundwater: Isotopic and chronologic evidence from Long Island, New York; 2009; Article; Journal; Environmental Science and Technology; Bohlke, J. K.; Hatzinger, P. B.; Sturchio, N. C.; Gu, B.; Abbene, I.; Mroczkowski, S. J.