Isotopes for improved management of nitrate pollution in aqueous resources: review of surface water field studies

The aim of the European Union (EU) Marine Strategy Framework Directive (2008/56/EC) is to achieve good environmental status of the EU marine waters by 2020. This implies also that human-induced eutrophication should be minimised. Nitrogen and other nutrients cause eutrophication which means losses in biodiversity, ecosystem degradation, harmful algae blooming and oxygen deficiency in bottom waters. Studies showed that isotope analysis can be used as a tool to identify nitrogen sources and to study spatial and mixing patterns of the nitrogen pollution in coastal waters, estuaries and marine waters. Different pollution sources show distinct and characteristic isotopic compositions.JRC.D.3-Knowledge Transfer and Standards for Securit