The use of strontium and lead isotopes to identify sources of water beneath the Fresh Kills landfill, Staten Island, New York, USA

• Published in: Applied geochemistry Vol. 15; no. 4; pp. 493 - 500
• Main Authors: Siegel, D.I, Bickford, M.E, Orrell, S.E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.05.2000; Elsevier
• Subjects: Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics; Exact sciences and technology; Hydrogeology; Hydrology. Hydrogeology; Isotope geochemistry; Isotope geochemistry. Geochronology; Pollution, environment geology; USA, New York, Staten Island; New York; United States; sea water; mixing; ground water; leaching; North America; ammonium ion; Staten Island; landfills; isotopes; dissolved materials; Pb/Pb; boron; organic carbon; Sr-87/Sr-86
• ISSN: 0883-2927; 1872-9134
• DOI: 10.1016/S0883-2927(99)00063-3

A study was undertaken to explore whether the isotopic compositions of Pb and Sr are useful to distinguish mixtures of uncontaminated groundwater, seawater, and landfill leachate at the Fresh Kills landfill, Staten Island, New York. Ratios of 87Sr/ 86Sr ranged from 0.7088 to 0.7137 and could be used to distinguish Sr that was derived from seawater from that in uncontaminated groundwater. Lead isotopic abundances did not vary systematically among the different water sources. Plots of 87Sr/ 86Sr versus dissolved organic C, B, and NH 4 + defined perpendicular trends, documenting where leachate or sea water mixed with uncontaminated groundwater, and demonstrating that leachate has not contaminated groundwater in aquifers beneath the landfill.