Abstract
A coupled methodology of nitrogen isotopes, hydrogeochemical characterization, multivariate statistical analysis, and SIAR Bayesian modeling has been employed to identify the sources of NO3− and N transformation processes in three alluvial aquifers (Schinos, Thiva, and Central Evia) located in central Greece where geogenic Cr(VI) co-occurs with agricultural activity and rural development. Hexavalent chromium concentrations exceed 50 μg/L in many sampling stations of the studied groundwater bodies, while nitrate contamination is evident in all three study areas with concentrations well over 50 mg/L. The mean δ15N-NO3– and δ18Ο-NO3− values are 6.67 ± 1.77‰ and 2.68 ± 1.77‰ in C. Evia, 8.72 ± 4.74‰ and 3.96 ± 4.57‰ in Schinos and 4.44 ± 1.71‰ and 2.91 ± 1.02‰ in Thiva, respectively. Domestic sewage and N-bearing fertilizers are contributing in various degrees to the observed nitrification which is the dominant transformation process of N in the studied aquifers. Multivariate statistics indicated that the main processes identified in the study areas are salinization, silicate dissolution, and groundwater contamination due to fertilizer use. It is suggested that ultramafic rock–related alluvial aquifers must be closely monitored in terms of nutrient inputs as an effective measure for controlling Cr(VI) release in groundwater.
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Data Availability
The dataset used during the current study is available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
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Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank Dr. Sotirios Karavoltsos and Dr. Vasiliki Paraskevopoulou of the Department of Chemistry of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens for their contribution to the analysis of nitrates, nitrites, and ammonia.
Funding
The present work was co-funded by the European Union (ERDF) and Greek national funds through the Operational Program “Competitiveness, Entrepreneurship and Innovation,” under the ERANETMED 1st Joint Call on Water Resources (project acronym: CrITERIA/ project code: T3EPA-00004).
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KP: Conceptualization, investigation, methodology, formal analysis, visualization, writing—original draft, writing—review and editing. EK: Conceptualization, research design, investigation, methodology, writing—review and editing. AA: Conceptualization, research design, investigation, methodology, writing—review and editing, supervision, project administration. PB: methodology, writing—review and editing. FB: methodology, formal analysis, writing—review and editing. ED: writing—review and editing.
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Pyrgaki, K., Kelepertzis, E., Argyraki, A. et al. Identification of sources and transformations of nitrate in Cr(VI)-impacted alluvial aquifers by a hydrogeochemical and δ15N-NO3− and δ18O-NO3 – isotopes approach. Environ Sci Pollut Res 29, 57703–57719 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-19837-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-19837-0