The use of carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios to identify landfill leachate contamination: Green Island Landfill, Dunedin, New Zealand.
A study was undertaken to determine whether the isotopic ratios of C and N could be used to uniquely identify municipal solid waste landfill leachate as a source of contamination in the Kaikorai Estuary, Dunedin, New Zealand. Leachate samples were taken from the adjacent Green Island Landfill (GILF), and surface water samples were collected over an 8-month period from the stream and estuary, upstream and downstream of the landfill. Samples were analysed for delta(13)C-dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), delta(15)N-NO(3)(-), delta(15)N-NH(4)(+), and particulate organic matter (POM) delta(13)C and delta(15)N. Plant material collected along the Kaikorai Stream was analysed for POM delta(13)C and delta(15)N. Leachate was found to have a distinct isotopic signature characterised by a highly enriched delta(13)C-DIC (as much as 16.11+/-0.23 per thousand ) and highly enriched delta(15)N-NH(4)(+) (as much as 27.42+/-0.90 per thousand ). Evidence of leachate contamination was found in the isotopic signatures of downstream delta(13)C-DIC, delta(15)N-NH(4)(+), and delta(13)C and delta(15)N of plant material POM. Other potential sources of enriched delta(13)C-DIC and delta(15)N-NH(4)(+) present in the study area, such as estuarine waters and livestock effluent, were eliminated on the basis of their isotopic characteristics.
North
Jessica C
JC
Chemistry Department, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand. jcnorth@bigfoot.com
Frew
Russell D
RD
Peake
Barrie M
BM
D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic; D002247:Carbon Isotopes / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D009520:New Zealand; D009587:Nitrogen Isotopes / Q000032:analysis; D010944:Plants; D012037:Refuse Disposal; D012995:Solubility; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*
D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D009587:Nitrogen Isotopes; D014873:Water Pollutants