An investigation on suspended solids sources in urban stormwater runoff using 7Be and 210 Pb as tracers.
Radionuclides 7Be and 210Pb were used as tracers to identify suspended solid sources and transport pathways in the storm runoff events from urban catchments. Water samples were collected in runoff of storm events in Wuhan City, China. Suspended solids, COD, TN, TP, and the 7Be and 210Pb activities in the suspended solids were analyzed. Following the pathway of urban runoff pollution, the rain precipitation, urban ground dust, gutter sediments, and sewer deposit samples were analyzed for 7Be and 210Pb activities. The results show that the 7Be/210Pb ratio decreased through the system from a value of 0.86+/-0.44 in ground dust, to 0.63+/-0.18 in suspended solids in storm runoff from the sewer outlet, to 0.55+/-0.31 in gutter sediments, and to 0.41+/-0.13 in combined sewer deposits. The 7Be/210Pb ratio decrease suggests that 60+/-12% of suspended solids at sewer outlet originated from the drainage system sediments, the rest was from the wash-off of urban ground dust during the rainfall events. The 7Be and 210Pb trace approach can give insight into the short-term source and transport of pollutant during storm runoff in urban drainage systems and it can help to develop management strategies.
Yin
Chengqing
C
SKLAC, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy Sciences, Beijing, China. cqyin@263.net
Li
Liqing
L
D001608:Beryllium / Q000032:analysis*; D002681:China; D007856:Lead Radioisotopes / Q000032:analysis*; D011868:Radioisotopes / Q000032:analysis; D014872:Water Movements; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis; D014875:Water Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis
D007856:Lead Radioisotopes; D011868:Radioisotopes; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D014875:Water Pollutants, Radioactive; D001608:Beryllium