Abstract
We investigated the distribution of nitrogen compounds in Han River as well as two tributaries of Tancheon and Jungrangcheon. Particularly, we observed the significant releases of NH4 +-N from effluent of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in two tributaries that has resulted in the increases of ammonium nitrogen (NH4 +-N) in Han River as well as in Tancheon and Jungrangcheon. Due to the increases of NH4 +-N in two tributaries, the larger distribution of δ15N-NH4 + was observed than those of δ15N-NO3 − in downstream. We calculated the contribution rate of ammonium nitrogen and nitrate nitrogen from effluent to downstream according to the results of stable isotope. The contribution rates of δ15N-NH4 + from effluent to downstream were significant that ranged between 53 and 100 % in Tancheon and between 27 and 100 % in Jungrangcheon. While the contribution of δ15N-NO3 − was not significant in Tancheon, it was occasionally observed in Jungrangcheon. These results demonstrated that WWTPs are the major sources of NH4 +-N in two tributaries, which caused the distinguishable stable isotope of δ15N-NH4 +. Therefore, the stable isotope of δ15N-NH4 + could be a useful parameter or tracer for the evaluation of NH4-N released from WWTPs in rivers.
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This research has been supported by the National Institute of Environmental Research and the Ministry of Environment, Republic of Korea in 2014 (Grant Number: 2014-02-01-010).
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Lee, J., Park, T., Kim, Ms. et al. Stable isotope on the evaluation of water quality in the presence of WWTPs in rivers. Environ Sci Pollut Res 23, 18175–18182 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-6990-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-6990-9