Journal article
Distinguishing point and non-point sources of dissolved nutrients, metals, and legacy contaminants in the Detroit River
The Science of the total environment, v 681, pp 1-8
01 Sep 2019
PMID: 31102810
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Water quality impacts to the Laurentian Great Likes create bi-national issues that have been subject of investigation since the 1970s. However, distinguishing upgradient sources of nutrients, metals and legacy contaminants in rivers remains a challenge, as they are derived from multiple sources and flows typically vary throughout the region. These complications are especially pertinent in the Lake Huron to Lake Erie corridor and Detroit River. The Detroit River supplies 90% of the water to the western basin of Lake Erie (5300 m(3)/s) and is subject to a variety of co-occurring potential sources (e.g., agriculture, urbanization, and upgradient water bodies) of water quality indicators that limit source disaggregation. To find the source signal in the noise we used an integrative interpretation of dissolved chemical and isotopic parameters with sediment chemical, isotopic, and contaminant indicators. The approach combines archival data to distinguish point and non-point sources, and upgradient water bodies as sources of nutrients, metals and contaminants to the Detroit River and ultimately the western basin of Lake Erie. Persistent organic pollutants and metals duster together as an urban group. Regional dissolved orthro-phosphate (PO4) in the water column also groups with urban point sources rather than agricultural sources. Urbanization as the primary source of PO4 in the Detroit River highlights the need for continued research on urban impacts and assessments of broader best management practices protecting Lake Erie. (C) 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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Details
- Title
- Distinguishing point and non-point sources of dissolved nutrients, metals, and legacy contaminants in the Detroit River
- Creators
- Timothy J. Maguire - University of WindsorCourtney Spencer - University of WindsorAlice Grgicak-Mannion - University of WindsorKen Drouillard - University of WindsorBernhard Mayer - University of CalgaryScott O. C. Mundle - University of Windsor
- Publication Details
- The Science of the total environment, v 681, pp 1-8
- Publisher
- Elsevier
- Number of pages
- 8
- Grant note
- NSERC's Discovery Grant program GCXE16R166 / Great Lakes Sustainability Fund, Environment and Climate Change Canada
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Environmental Biogeochemistry
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000469847200001
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85065527826
- Other Identifier
- 991021903229604721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Environmental Sciences