Submarine groundwater discharge: A previously undocumented source of contaminants of emerging concern to the coastal ocean (Sydney, Australia)

The effects of submarine groundwater discharge and the Bonnet Carré Spillway on nutrient dynamics in the western Mississippi Sound

The Mississippi Sound is an estuary in the northern Gulf of Mexico that is susceptible to eutrophication and hypoxia, both of which have led to habitat degradation, and organism stress and mortality. In this study, we explore potential forcing factors that impact the Sound's water quality such as local river flooding, submarine groundwater discharge (SGD), and the 2019 opening of the Bonnet Carré Spillway (BCS). Broad spatial surveys of radon along the coast and offshore indicated that areas prone to localized fish kills had higher levels of groundwater seepage. Nearshore water measurements of radium (228Ra) were used to calculate the groundwater flux at five stations across the western Sound. These fluxes were on the order of ∼6 cm d-1. Measured reduced constituents (DON, NH4+ and CH4) introduced to the Sound from SGD have a high potential oxygen demand representing about half of the typical summer oxygen saturation. Limited measurements of S2- and estimates of DOC increase this demand further. Submarine groundwater discharge nutrient fluxes were also higher than that of the local rivers for reduced nitrogen species and phosphate, and when river fluxes are low, the groundwater is the dominant source of all nutrients to the Sound. However, when the Bonnet Carré Spillway was open, the western part of the Sound experienced rapid and severe drops in salinity, as well as high influxes of nutrients that changed the geochemical composition of the water that were unrelated to SGD or local rivers. Therefore, the influence of SGD, the BCS, and local rivers are all an important part of the Sound biogeochemistry, requiring consideration when making management decisions.

The use of sedimentary metals to assess anthropogenic change, ecological risk, model past and future impacts and identify contaminant sources in the eleven estuaries of Greater Sydney (Australia): A review and critical assessment

The Greater Sydney (Australia) region is dissected by eleven major estuaries comprising a wide range of sizes, sediment and contaminant types, while the catchments also vary in size, land use type, populations size and geology/soils. The magnitude and breadth of the current study are rare and offered an unusual opportunity to provide new information on interactions between source, fate and effect relationships of a highly diverse estuarine-catchment environment using sedimentary metals (Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn). Advanced methodologies used in this study revealed that although metal concentrations were generally high, ecological risk was surprisingly reduced due to the presence of metal-poor coarse sediment. Stormwater was identified as the dominant source of metals to estuaries of Greater Sydney and relates to development of high-density road networks. Industrial sources, frequently identified as a major contributor to estuarine contamination, was significantly reduced due to the decline of industry through decentralisation and gentrification and because waste is discharged to the sewer system, which is released offshore, or tertiary-treated to the Hawkesbury. Groundwater leachate associated with shoreline reclamation and wetland infilling and metals related to boating activities were important sources of metals impacting local bays and coastal lagoons. Temporal monitoring and unique modelling approaches indicated that the concentration of sedimentary metals is generally declining in these estuaries, (especially for Pb), except for areas with rapidly increasing urban populations. Multivariate statistical modelling was able to differentiate the 11 estuaries on a chemical basis by aligning Cu, Pb, Zn vectors with metal-rich estuaries and also identified catchment attributes (percent area, total yield, anthropogenic yield and population density) normalised to catchment areas as having a major influence on estuarine condition. The new knowledge derived from this study should be used to assess the environmental status of estuaries and to prioritise management actions in future investigations.

Occurrence of toxic elements in river areas along drains and groundwater resources: source of contamination and associated health risk

The objective of the current research was to examine the water quality of the River Ravi and the River Sutlej, with a specific focus on potentially toxic elements (PTEs). Additionally, we sought to monitor the sources of pollution in these rivers by gathering samples from the primary drains that carry industrial and municipal waste into these water bodies. Furthermore, we aimed to evaluate the impact of PTEs in surface water on groundwater quality by collecting groundwater samples from nearby populated areas. A total of 30 samples were collected from these three sources: rivers (6 samples), drains (9 samples), and groundwater (15 samples). The analysis revealed that the levels of PTEs in the samples from these three resources having a mean value: arsenic (As) 23.5 µg/L, zinc (Zn) 2.35 mg/L, manganese (Mn) 0.51 mg/L, lead (Pb) 6.63 µg/L, and chromium (Cr) 10.9 µg/L, exceeded the recommended values set by the World Health Organization (WHO). Furthermore, PTEs including (As 84%), (Zn 65%), (Mn 69%), (Pb 53%), (Cr 53%), and (Ni 27%), samples were beyond the recommended values of WHO. The results of the Principal Component Analysis indicated that surface water and groundwater exhibited total variability of 83.87% and 85.97%, respectively. This indicates that the aquifers in the study area have been contaminated due to both natural geogenic factors and anthropogenic sources. These sources include the discharge of industrial effluents, wastewater from municipal sources, mining activities, agricultural practices, weathering of rocks, and interactions between rocks and water. Spatial distribution maps clearly illustrated the widespread mobilization of PTEs throughout the study area. Furthermore, a health risk assessment was conducted to evaluate the potential adverse health effects of PTEs through the ingestion of drinking groundwater by both children and adults. Health risk assessment result show the mean carcinogenic values for As, Cr, Pb and Ni in children are calculated to be (1.88E-04), (2.61E-04), (2.16E-02), and (5.74E-05), respectively. Similarly, the mean carcinogenic values for the above mentioned PTEs in adults were recorded to be (2.39E-05), (3.32E-05), (1.19E-03), and (7.29E-06) respectively. The total hazard index values for As, Zn, Cr, Pb, Mn, Cu, and Ni in children were observed to be (9.07E + 00), (9.95E-07), (4.59E-04), (5.75E-04), (4.72E-05), (2.78E-03), and (5.27E-05) respectively. The analysis revealed that As has an adverse effect on the population of the study area as compared to other PTEs investigated in this study.

The connection between Submarine Groundwater Discharge and seawater quality: The threat of treated wastewater injected into coastal aquifers

Submarine Groundwater Discharge (SGD) delivers nutrients to the coastal sea triggering phytoplankton blooms, eutrophication, and can also serve as a pathway for contaminants. Wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) including injection wells in coastal areas influence coastal aquifers and might impact the composition and magnitude of SGD fluxes. In tourist areas, wastewater treatment may be less efficient and larger in volume during high seasons, potentially impacting nutrient fluxes from SGD and exacerbating environmental impacts. This study analyzes the nutrient transfer from treated wastewater injection in karstic aquifers to the coastal sea via SGD, considering the impacts of tourism seasonality. This study is conducted in Cala Deià, a small cove in the Balearic Islands, a Mediterranean tourist destination. The findings suggest that the seasonality of tourism, leading to variations in the volume of wastewater treated in the WWTP, influences the dynamics of the coastal aquifer. This leads to increased SGD water and nutrient fluxes to the sea in summer, i.e. the peak tourist season. The measured DIN, DIP, and DSi inventories in the cove are much larger in August than in April (3, 10, and 1.5 times higher, respectively) due to higher input of nutrients in summer due to SGD impacted by the WWTP. These elevated nutrient flows can support algal blooms in the cove, compromising water quality for local swimmers and tourists. Indeed, in August, shoreline stations exhibited eutrophic Chl-a concentrations, with peaks reaching approximately 4 mg Chl-a L-1. These elevated levels suggest the presence of an algal bloom during the survey. The anthropogenic origin of SGD-driven nutrients is traced in seawater and seagrass meadows, as evidenced by high ∂15N signatures indicative of polluted areas. Thus, the high pressure exerted on coastal areas by tourism activities increased the magnitude of SGD nutrient fluxes, thereby threatening coastal ecosystems and the services they provide.

Socio-hydrogeological survey and assessment of organic pollutants to highlight and trace back pollution fluxes threatening a coastal groundwater-dependent ecosystem

Despite being a vector of pollution towards connected ecosystems, groundwater is often underestimated or not taken into account in management frameworks. To fill this gap, we propose to add socio-economic data to hydrogeological investigations to identify past and present pollution sources linked to human activities at watershed scale in order to forecast threats towards groundwater-dependent ecosystems (GDEs). The aim of this paper is to demonstrate, by a cross-disciplinary approach, the added value of socio-hydrogeological investigations to tackle anthropogenic pollution fluxes towards a GDE and to contribute to more sustainable management of groundwater resources. A survey combining chemical compounds analysis, data compilation, land use analysis and field investigations with a questionnaire was carried out on the Biguglia lagoon plain (France). Results show a pollution with a two-fold source, both agricultural and domestic, in all water bodies of the plain. The pesticide analysis reveals the presence of 10 molecules, including domestic compounds, with concentrations exceeding European groundwater quality standards for individual pesticides, as well as pesticides already banned for twenty years. On the basis of both the field survey and the questionnaire, agricultural pollution has been identified as very local highlighting the storage capacity of the aquifer, whereas domestic pollution is diffuse over the plain and attributed to sewage network effluents and septic tanks. Domestic compounds present shorter residence time within the aquifer highlighting continuous inputs, related to consumption habits of the population. Under the Water Framework Directive (WFD), member states are required to preserve the good ecological status, quality and quantity of water bodies. However, for GDEs it is difficult to achieve the 'good status' required without considering the groundwater's pollutant storage capacity and pollution legacy. To help resolve this issue, socio-hydrogeology has proved to be an efficient tool as well as for implementing effective protection measures for Mediterranean GDEs.

Patterns and variability in the microplastic contamination along the southwest coast of India with emphasis on submarine groundwater discharge sites

Beach sediments of the southwest coast of India were analysed to estimate the microplastic contamination with emphasis on the submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) zones. Both SGD and non-SGD sites were assessed for abundance, morphotype and polymer type of microplastics. Microplastic load was 230.429 ± 62.87 particles per 100 g. Fibre, mainly blue, was the abundant morphotype, followed by fragment, foam and film. The polymer types were POLYETHYLENE (PE) (30.77 %), POLYPROPYLENE (PP) (26.92 %), POLYAMIDE (PA) (19.23 %), POLYSTYRENE (PS) (11.54 %), ETHYLENE VINYL ACETATE (EVA) (7.692 %) and POLYVINYL CHLORIDE (PVC) (3.846 %). The SGD zones exhibited higher microplastic contamination with statistically significant variations from non SGD sites. The study accounts the levels of microplastic contamination along the southwest coast of India, a major fishery zone. The higher abundance of microplastic in the SGD zones indicates the significance of subterranean groundwater through flow as a pathway of anthropogenic contaminants towards marine ecosystems.

Key factors influencing pollution of heavy metals and phenolic compounds in mangrove sediments, South China

Concentrations of heavy metals (HMs) and phenolic compounds with factors which potentially affected their spatial distribution were investigated in mangrove sediments, South China. Compared to Qi'ao, Futian sediments exhibited higher levels of Pb and nonylphenol (NP), but lower levels of Co and Ni. Seasonal variation showed higher concentrations of Pb, Cr, Co, NP and bisphenol A (BPA), while lower concentration of methylparaben (MP) in wet than dry season. Contaminant levels in sediments collected at different tidal heights showed insignificant variations, except for Zn and NP. MP was found negatively correlated with nearly all HMs and BPA, whereas the latter exhibited positive correlations with each other. Sedimentary total carbon, total nitrogen, C/N and N/P ratios were screened as the most influential factors affecting the distribution of these contaminants. Additionally, both salinity and total phosphate exhibited positive, while both pH and sedimentary particle size registered negative correlation, with one or more contaminants.

Exploring the presence and distribution of microplastics in subterranean estuaries from southwest India

Rivers, surface runoff, and the wind all transport microplastics (MPs) to the ocean. There is a knowledge gap concerning the distribution of microplastics in transitional subterranean estuaries. Here, we report the presence of microplastics in the pore water, groundwater, and sea water from four locations in southwest India. Pore water, groundwater, and seawater had mean MP abundances (± standard deviations) of 0.75 (±0.66), 0.15 (±0.1), and 0.11 (±0.07) MPs/l, respectively. Fibres were the dominant category of MPs found. Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy revealed the presence of polymers like polyester, low-density polyethylene, and polystyrene. Possible sources of microplastic are fishing activities, tourism, and coastal residents. The microplastics-derived risk assessment scores indicate severe risk to the ecosystems. Fibrous microplastics in pore water indicate that these linear particles can migrate vertically through sandy sediments, reaching subterranean estuaries. We believe submarine groundwater discharge can act as a possible pathway for microplastics to enter the oceans.

Emerging Contaminants and New POPs (PFAS and HBCDD) in Endangered Southern Resident and Bigg's (Transient) Killer Whales (Orcinus orca): In Utero Maternal Transfer and Pollution Management Implications

Killer whales (Orcinus orca) have been deemed one of the most contaminated cetacean species in the world. However, concentrations and potential health implications of selected 'contaminants of emerging concern' (CECs) and new persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in endangered Southern Resident and threatened Bigg's (Transient) killer whales in the Northeastern Pacific (NEP) have not yet been documented. Here, we quantify CECs [alkylphenols (APs), triclosan, methyl triclosan, and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)] and new POPs [hexabromocyclododecane (HBCCD), PFOS, PFOA, and PFHxS] in skeletal muscle and liver samples of these sentinel species and investigate in utero transfer of these contaminants. Samples were collected from necropsied individuals from 2006 to 2018 and analyzed by LC-MS/MS or HRBC/HRMS. AP and PFAS contaminants were the most prevalent compounds; 4-nonylphenol (4NP) was the predominant AP (median 40.84 ng/g ww), and interestingly, 7:3-fluorotelomer carboxylic acid (7:3 FTCA) was the primary PFAS (median 66.35 ng/g ww). Maternal transfer ratios indicated 4NP as the most transferred contaminant from the dam to the fetus, with maternal transfer rates as high as 95.1%. Although too few killer whales have been screened for CECs and new POPs to infer the magnitude of contamination impact, these results raise concerns regarding pathological implications and potential impacts on fetal development and production of a viable neonate. This study outlines CEC and new POP concentrations in killer whales of the NEP and provides scientifically derived evidence to support and inform regulation to mitigate pollutant sources and contamination of Southern Resident killer whale critical habitat and other marine ecosystems.

Muddy (silty-sand) beaches in semi-arid regions attenuate the contaminants flowing into the sea as a submarine groundwater discharge

Urbanized coastal areas are well-recognized hotspots for the contaminant-enriched groundwater discharge, influencing sensitive coastal ecosystems. The present study investigates how muddy beaches in the semi-arid region alter the contaminant flux flowing into the sea using submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) estimation and hydrogeochemical analysis of coastal waters (groundwater, porewater, and seawater). Fresh SGD carries contaminants such as nutrients and trace metals in the coastal ecosystem, causing increased vulnerability towards eutrophication, harmful algal blooms, and human health. We found that SGD reaching the coast carries immense nutrient flux (155.6 mmol NO₃^- · day^-1; 35 mmol P · day^-1 and 12.4 mmol DSi · day^-1) and trace metal load ranging from 0.1 to 14.9 mmol · day^-1. The nutrient fluxes were higher in the upper saline plume compared to the lower plume. The muddy beach attenuates the nutrients in varying percentages of 9.7 to 22% of NO₃^-, 1.9 to 25.5% of P due to denitrification and phosphorus absorption, and also caused 19.6% reduction of SO₄^2-. The reduction in SO₄^2- leads to the formation of sulfide (HS^-) that promotes the metal precipitation, resulting in the removal of Pb and Cu. This attenuation of nutrients leads to a change in the nutrient ratio (N/P = 7-11) approaching the Redfield ratio, implying the vulnerability of algal bloom at the Dehri beach. Overall, the muddy beach can serve as a natural biogeochemical reactor as it attenuates the nutrient and serves as a source for certain trace metals (Fe, Mn, Zn, and Ni), altering the composition of SGD. Probably this is the first study that emphasizes the attenuation of trace metals in the muddy beaches of a semi-arid region.

Treatment technologies to mitigate the harmful effects of recalcitrant fluoroquinolone antibiotics on the environ- ment and human health

Antibiotic proliferation in the environment and their persistent nature is an issue of global concern as they induce antibiotic resistance threatening both human health and the ecosystem. Antibiotics have therefore been categorized as emerging pollutants. Fluoroquinolone (FQs) antibiotics are an emerging class of contaminants that are used extensively in human and veterinary medicine. The recalcitrant nature of fluoroquinolones has led to their presence in wastewater, effluents and water bodies. Even at a low concentration, FQs can stimulate antibacterial resistance. The main sources of FQ contamination include waste from pharmaceutical manufacturing industries, hospitals and households that ultimately reaches the wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). The conventional WWTPs are unable to completely remove FQs due to their chemical stability. Therefore, the development and implementation of more efficient, economical, convenient treatment and removal technologies are needed to adequately address the issue. This review provides an overview of the technologies available for the removal of fluoroquinolone antibiotics from wastewater including adsorptive removal, advanced oxidation processes, removal using non-carbon based nanomaterials, microbial degradation and enzymatic degradation. Each treatment technology is discussed on its merits and limitations and a comparative view is presented on the choice of an advanced treatment process for future studies and implementation. A discussion on the commercialization potential and eco-friendliness of each technology is also included in the review. The importance of metabolite identification and their residual toxicity determination has been emphasized. The last section of the review provides an overview of the policy interventions and regulatory frameworks that aid in retrofitting antibiotics as a central key focus contaminant and thereby defining the discharge limits for antibiotics and establishing safe manufacturing practices.

Traditional and novel time-series approaches reveal submarine groundwater discharge dynamics under baseline and extreme event conditions

Groundwater is a vital resource for humans and groundwater dependent ecosystems. Coastal aquifers and submarine groundwater discharge (SGD), both influenced by terrestrial and marine forces, are increasingly affected by climate variations and sea-level rise. Despite this, coastal groundwater resources and discharge are frequently poorly constrained, limiting our understanding of aquifer responses to external forces. We apply traditional and novel time-series approaches using an SGD dataset of previously unpublished resolution and duration, to analyze the dependencies between precipitation, groundwater level, and SGD at a model site (Kīholo Bay, Hawai'i). Our objectives include (1) determining the relative contribution of SGD drivers over tidal and seasonal periods, (2) establishing temporal relationships and thresholds of processes influencing SGD, and (3) evaluating the impacts of anomalous events, such as tropical storms, on SGD. This analysis reveals, for example, that precipitation is only a dominant influence during wet periods, and otherwise tides and waves dictate the dynamics of SGD. It also provides time lags between intense storm events and higher SGD rates, as well as thresholds for precipitation, wave height and tides affecting SGD. Overall, we demonstrate an approach for modeling a hydrological system while elucidating coastal aquifer and SGD response in unprecedented detail.

Radon traced seasonal variations of water mixing and accompanying nutrient and carbon transport in the Yellow-Bohai Sea

Radon (²²²Rn) is a natural radioactive tracer widely utilized to evaluate water exchange and mixing processes; however, minimal studies have investigated the ²²²Rn distribution in the Yellow-Bohai Sea (YBS) and its behavior is poorly understood. In this study, the seasonal distribution of ²²²Rn in the YBS was investigated. The results found that the ²²²Rn distribution in surface waters is significantly affected by rivers, while ²²²Rn activity in bottom waters is highly affected by submarine groundwater discharge. The eddy diffusivity and advection velocities of the YBS were obtained utilizing an improved 1D steady-state ²²²Rn diffusion-advection model. The average horizontal eddy diffusivities in the wet (August 2015) and dry (November 2014) seasons were 4.54 × 10⁸ and 2.28 × 10⁸ cm² s^-1 in dry season, respectively and the average vertical eddy diffusivity was 4.99 cm² s^-1. The dissolved inorganic nutrient (N, P, and Si) and dissolved inorganic carbon flux outputs from vertical eddy diffusion were determined to be 4.85, 0.29, 3.59, and 61.6 mmol m^-2 d^-1, respectively. These results demonstrate that eddy diffusion tracing in coastal ocean is conducive to interpreting water mixing processes and can be utilized to understand offshore nutrient and carbon transport better.