Episodic salinization and freshwater salinization syndrome mobilize base cations, carbon, and nutrients to streams across urban regions

Haq, Shahan; Kaushal, Sujay S.; Duan, Shuiwang

doi:10.1007/s10533-018-0514-2

Cited by 60 publications

(81 citation statements)

References 93 publications

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“…Interactions between major ions in salts and other chemical cycles in ecosystems are important but are sometimes poorly recognized. For example, concentrations and compositions of salts influence pH, conductivity, solubility, mobility and chemical and biological reactivity of metals, nutrients, organics and greenhouse gases in fresh waters [16,18,41,48]. Managing freshwater salinization requires considering chemical mixtures and potential interactive effects as a syndrome of multiple stressors instead of single contaminants.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The positive relationship between specific conductance and pH suggests that the pH change is embodied by an increase in alkaline salts. This relationship may result from mobile anions, such as chloride and nitrate, transported together as chemical mixtures and ion exchange reactions in soils [17,18]. There was a cyclical relationship between nitrate concentrations and specific conductance during a discrete snowstorm demonstrating a flushing effect in an urban stream and the nearby Potomac River (electronic supplementary material, figure S5).…”

Section: (B) Freshwater Salinization Syndrome Mobilizes Mixtures Of Amentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In fresh waters, there is competition between toxic metal ions and other metal cations in solution (such as Ca 2þ ), and there is also competition between biotic ligands and organic matter for metal ions [61]. Both mixtures of major ions and concentrations and compositions of organic matter can change as a consequence of FSS [17,18], which can make evaluating toxicity more complex under environmental conditions in streams. However, it is important to note that there are tools like the Biotic Ligand Model for Cu that can provide a means of quantifying relative toxicity based on different or changing concentrations of major ions, pH, organic matter, etc.…”

Section: (C) Freshwater Salinization Syndrome Mobilizes Chemical Mixtmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…CO 2À 3 [39,40]. Alkaline conditions favour the release of phosphorus from oxyhydroxides in sediments and soils which contribute to freshwater eutrophication [17,18]. Microbial nitrification and denitrification are both stimulated at slightly alkaline pH in soils and sediments affected by road salts, which contributes to either nitrogen transformations and/or coastal eutrophication (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Novel ‘chemical cocktails' in inland waters are a consequence of the freshwater salinization syndrome

Kaushal

Likens

Pace

et al. 2018

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

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Widespread changes in water temperatures, salinity, alkalinity and pH have been documented in inland waters in North America, which influence ion exchange, weathering rates, chemical solubility and contaminant toxicity. Increasing major ion concentrations from pollution, human-accelerated weathering and saltwater intrusion contribute to multiple ecological stressors such as changing ionic strength and pH and mobilization of chemical mixtures resulting in the freshwater salinization syndrome (FSS). Here, we explore novel combinations of elements, which are transported together as chemical mixtures containing salts, nutrients and metals as a consequence of FSS. First, we show that base cation concentrations have increased in regions primarily in North America and Europe over 100 years. Second, we show interactions between specific conductance, pH, nitrate and metals using data from greater than 20 streams located in different regions of the USA. Finally, salinization experiments and routine monitoring demonstrate mobilization of chemical mixtures of cations, metals and nutrients in 10 streams draining the Washington, DC–Baltimore, MD metropolitan regions. Freshwater salinization mobilizes diverse chemical mixtures influencing drinking water quality, infrastructure corrosion, freshwater CO 2 concentrations and biodiversity. Most regulations currently target individual contaminants, but FSS requires managing mobilization of multiple chemical mixtures and interacting ecological stressors as consequences of freshwater salinization. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Salt in freshwaters: causes, ecological consequences and future prospects’.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: (B) Freshwater Salinization Syndrome Mobilizes Mixtures Of Amentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: (C) Freshwater Salinization Syndrome Mobilizes Chemical Mixtmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Novel ‘chemical cocktails' in inland waters are a consequence of the freshwater salinization syndrome

Kaushal

Likens

Pace

et al. 2018

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

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“…Road salt can also increase the leaching of soil nutrients (Mg 2+ , K + , Na + ), potentially inhibiting the recovery of forested catchments affected by acid rain-induced soil acidification (Schweiger, Audorff, & Beierkuhnlein, 2015). Road salt concentrations ranging from 500 to 10,000 mg Cl − /L in urban watershed networks can also cause the release of Ca 2+ , K + , dissolved organic carbon, dissolved inorganic carbon, total dissolved Kjeldahl nitrogen (as NH 4 + + NH 3 + dissolved organic nitrogen), and can increase the water column concentration of soluble reactive phosphorus released from freshwater sediments or soils (Duan & Kaushal, 2015;Haq, Kaushal, & Duan, 2018). Concentrations of 2,500 mg Cl − /L in stream ecosystems can reduce denitrification rates, potentially decreasing the number of nitrate sinks in streams (Hale & Groffman, 2006).…”

Section: Ecosys Tem -Le Vel Re S P On S E Smentioning

confidence: 99%

A review of the species, community, and ecosystem impacts of road salt salinisation in fresh waters

2019

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Freshwater ecosystems worldwide are threatened by salinisation caused by human activities. Scientific attention on the ecological impacts of salinisation from road deicing salts is increasing exponentially. Spanning multiple trophic levels and ecosystem types, we review and synthesise the ecological impacts of road salt in freshwater ecosystems to understand species‐, community‐, and ecosystem‐level responses. In our review, we identify knowledge gaps that we hope will motivate future research directions. We found that road salts negatively affect species at all trophic levels, from biofilms to fish. The concentration at which road salt triggered an effect varied considerably. Species‐level impacts were generally sub‐lethal, leading to reductions in growth and reproduction, which can be magnified by natural stressors such as predation. Community‐level impacts including reductions of biodiversity were common, leading to communities of salt‐tolerant species, which may have implications for disease transmission from enhanced recruitment of salt‐tolerant host species such as mosquitoes. At the ecosystem level, road salts alter nutrient and energy flow. Contaminated wetlands could see greater export of greenhouse gases, streams will probably export more nitrogen and carbon, and lakes will encounter altered hydrology and oxygen dynamics, leading to greater phosphorus release from sediments. While it is necessary to keep roads safe for humans, the costs to freshwater ecosystems may be severe if actions are not taken to mitigate road salt salinisation. Cooperation among policy makers, environmental managers, transportation professionals, scientists, and the public will be crucial to prevent a loss of ecosystem services including water clarity, drinkable water, recreation venues, and fisheries.

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The slow and steady salinization of Sparkling Lake, Wisconsin

Dugan

Rock

2021

Limnol Oceanogr Letters

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Even in rural areas, groundwater-fed lakes may be at high risk for slow, long-term salinization depending on groundwater flow paths. We use 40 years of monitoring data from Sparkling Lake, Wisconsin to show that the slow steady rise in chloride is the result of terrestrial retention of road salt. The enormity of chloride that resides on the landscape has slowed surface water impairment, but also will delay any recovery in the near term.

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Episodic salinization and freshwater salinization syndrome mobilize base cations, carbon, and nutrients to streams across urban regions

Cited by 60 publications

References 93 publications

Novel ‘chemical cocktails' in inland waters are a consequence of the freshwater salinization syndrome

Novel ‘chemical cocktails' in inland waters are a consequence of the freshwater salinization syndrome

A review of the species, community, and ecosystem impacts of road salt salinisation in fresh waters

The slow and steady salinization of Sparkling Lake, Wisconsin

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