Strontium Isotope Ratios in Fish Otoliths as Biogenic Tracers of Coal Combustion Residual Inputs to Freshwater Ecosystems

Jessica E. Brandt; Nancy E. Lauer; Avner Vengosh; Emily S. Bernhardt; Richard T. Di Giulio

doi:10.1021/acs.estlett.8b00477

Strontium Isotope Ratios in Fish Otoliths as Biogenic Tracers of Coal Combustion Residual Inputs to Freshwater Ecosystems

Jessica E. Brandt, Nancy E. Lauer, Avner Vengosh, Emily S. Bernhardt, Richard T. Di Giulio

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

Permitted and accidental releases of contaminants from coal combustion residual (CCR) storage facilities pose environmental and ecological risks for associated freshwater ecosystems around the world. Previous studies have applied isotope ratios in CCRs as environmental tracers to delineate and quantify the impact of CCRs and other fossil fuel wastes. In this proof-of-concept study, we present data from CCR-receiving as well as non-impacted lakes in North Carolina to assess the applicability of otolith-based strontium isotope ratios as biogenic tracers of CCRs in ecosystems receiving coal-fired power plant effluents. We show that while discrepancies between bulk otolith and surface water ratios likely reflected temporal variations in CCR inputs and/or upstream water sources over fish lifetimes, ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios in largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) otoliths consistently reflected those in lake sediment pore waters. Because biogenic ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios are both geochemically and metabolically stable, they are potentially powerful tools for informing contamination sources and timing alongside studies investigating the effects of co-occurring trace elements in fossil fuel waste streams.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	718-723
Number of pages	6
Journal	Environmental Science and Technology Letters
Volume	5
Issue number	12
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.estlett.8b00477
State	Published - 11 Dec 2018
Externally published	Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Environmental Chemistry
Ecology
Water Science and Technology
Waste Management and Disposal
Pollution
Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis

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title = "Strontium Isotope Ratios in Fish Otoliths as Biogenic Tracers of Coal Combustion Residual Inputs to Freshwater Ecosystems",

abstract = "Permitted and accidental releases of contaminants from coal combustion residual (CCR) storage facilities pose environmental and ecological risks for associated freshwater ecosystems around the world. Previous studies have applied isotope ratios in CCRs as environmental tracers to delineate and quantify the impact of CCRs and other fossil fuel wastes. In this proof-of-concept study, we present data from CCR-receiving as well as non-impacted lakes in North Carolina to assess the applicability of otolith-based strontium isotope ratios as biogenic tracers of CCRs in ecosystems receiving coal-fired power plant effluents. We show that while discrepancies between bulk otolith and surface water ratios likely reflected temporal variations in CCR inputs and/or upstream water sources over fish lifetimes, 87Sr/86Sr ratios in largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) otoliths consistently reflected those in lake sediment pore waters. Because biogenic 87Sr/86Sr ratios are both geochemically and metabolically stable, they are potentially powerful tools for informing contamination sources and timing alongside studies investigating the effects of co-occurring trace elements in fossil fuel waste streams.",

author = "Brandt, {Jessica E.} and Lauer, {Nancy E.} and Avner Vengosh and Bernhardt, {Emily S.} and {Di Giulio}, {Richard T.}",

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AU - Brandt, Jessica E.

AU - Lauer, Nancy E.

AU - Vengosh, Avner

AU - Bernhardt, Emily S.

AU - Di Giulio, Richard T.

PY - 2018/12/11

Y1 - 2018/12/11

N2 - Permitted and accidental releases of contaminants from coal combustion residual (CCR) storage facilities pose environmental and ecological risks for associated freshwater ecosystems around the world. Previous studies have applied isotope ratios in CCRs as environmental tracers to delineate and quantify the impact of CCRs and other fossil fuel wastes. In this proof-of-concept study, we present data from CCR-receiving as well as non-impacted lakes in North Carolina to assess the applicability of otolith-based strontium isotope ratios as biogenic tracers of CCRs in ecosystems receiving coal-fired power plant effluents. We show that while discrepancies between bulk otolith and surface water ratios likely reflected temporal variations in CCR inputs and/or upstream water sources over fish lifetimes, 87Sr/86Sr ratios in largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) otoliths consistently reflected those in lake sediment pore waters. Because biogenic 87Sr/86Sr ratios are both geochemically and metabolically stable, they are potentially powerful tools for informing contamination sources and timing alongside studies investigating the effects of co-occurring trace elements in fossil fuel waste streams.

AB - Permitted and accidental releases of contaminants from coal combustion residual (CCR) storage facilities pose environmental and ecological risks for associated freshwater ecosystems around the world. Previous studies have applied isotope ratios in CCRs as environmental tracers to delineate and quantify the impact of CCRs and other fossil fuel wastes. In this proof-of-concept study, we present data from CCR-receiving as well as non-impacted lakes in North Carolina to assess the applicability of otolith-based strontium isotope ratios as biogenic tracers of CCRs in ecosystems receiving coal-fired power plant effluents. We show that while discrepancies between bulk otolith and surface water ratios likely reflected temporal variations in CCR inputs and/or upstream water sources over fish lifetimes, 87Sr/86Sr ratios in largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) otoliths consistently reflected those in lake sediment pore waters. Because biogenic 87Sr/86Sr ratios are both geochemically and metabolically stable, they are potentially powerful tools for informing contamination sources and timing alongside studies investigating the effects of co-occurring trace elements in fossil fuel waste streams.

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Strontium Isotope Ratios in Fish Otoliths as Biogenic Tracers of Coal Combustion Residual Inputs to Freshwater Ecosystems

Abstract

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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