Chlorine-36 as a tracer of perchlorate origin
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Abstract
Perchlorate (ClO4−) is ubiquitous in the environment. It is produced naturally by atmospheric photochemical reactions, and also is synthesized in large quantities for military, aerospace, and industrial applications. Nitrate-enriched salt deposits of the Atacama Desert (Chile) contain high concentrations of natural ClO4−, and have been exported worldwide since the mid-1800s for use in agriculture. The widespread introduction of synthetic and agricultural ClO4− into the environment has contaminated numerous municipal water supplies. Stable isotope ratio measurements of Cl and O have been applied for discrimination of different ClO4− sources in the environment. This study explores the potential of 36Cl measurements for further improving the discrimination of ClO4− sources. Groundwater and desert soil samples from the southwestern United States (U.S.) contain ClO4− having high 36Cl abundances (36Cl/Cl = 3100 × 10−15 to 28,800 × 10−15), compared with those from the Atacama Desert (36Cl/Cl = 0.9 × 10−15 to 590 × 10−15) and synthetic ClO4−reagents and products (36Cl/Cl = 0.0 × 10−15 to 40 × 10−15). In conjunction with stable Cl and O isotope ratios, 36Cl data provide a clear distinction among three principal ClO4− source types in the environment of the southwestern U.S.
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Chlorine-36 as a tracer of perchlorate origin |
| Series title | Environmental Science & Technology |
| DOI | 10.1021/es9012195 |
| Volume | 43 |
| Issue | 18 |
| Year Published | 2009 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | ACS |
| Contributing office(s) | Toxic Substances Hydrology Program |
| Description | 5 p. |
| First page | 6934 |
| Last page | 6938 |
| Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |