Assessment of environmental forensic indicator for anthropogenic groundwater contamination via target/suspect/nontarget analysis using HRMS techniques

This study compared target/suspect/nontarget analysis via liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) with traditional environmental forensic methods, specifically nitrate and its stable N isotope, in assessing groundwater pollution from livestock manure and agriculture. Using...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of hazardous materials 2024-04, Vol.467, p.133629-133629, Article 133629
Main Authors: Moon, Haeran, Yun, Seong-Taek, Oh, Jeong-Eun
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
animal manures
Biomarker
Environmental forensics
forensic sciences
Groundwater
groundwater contamination
humans
LC-HRMS (Liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry)
mass spectrometry
nitrates
sewage
SNTS
stable isotopes
sulfamethazine
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Summary:This study compared target/suspect/nontarget analysis via liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) with traditional environmental forensic methods, specifically nitrate and its stable N isotope, in assessing groundwater pollution from livestock manure and agriculture. Using an in-house database of 1471 target and suspects, 35 contaminants (pesticides, veterinary drugs, surfactants) were identified, some uniquely linked to specific pollution sources, such as sulfamethazine and 4-formylaminoantipyrine in manure-affected areas. Pesticides were widespread, typically showing higher intensity in agricultural zones. On the other hand, the results of stable N isotope analysis (δ15N-NO3: 4.8 to 16.4‰) indicated the influence of human activities such as fertilizers, sewage, and manure in all sampling sites, including the control site far from the pollution sources and cannot differentiate the specific sources. The study underscores LC-HRMS's efficacy in different pollution sources, surpassing the limitations of stable N isotope analysis, and provides valuable insights for polluted groundwater source tracking strategies. [Display omitted] ●LC-HRMS technique was used to investigate groundwater pollution in historically contaminated Korean groundwater sites.●Specific chemical substances, including indicators from a particular source of contamination were identified.●Results of LC-HRMS-based method was compared with traditional forensic-based method, namely nitrate and its stable N isotope.●Chemicals watch list at different contamination source impacted sites were suggested by non-target analysis.
ISSN:0304-3894
1873-3336
DOI:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.133629