Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Tracing nutrient pollution from industrialized animal production in a large coastal watershed

  • Published:
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

One of the highest concentrations of swine and poultry concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) in North America is located on the Coastal Plain of North Carolina, in which the Cape Fear River basin is located. The CAFOs produce vast amounts of manure causing loading of nutrients and other pollutants to receiving waters. With the Cape Fear River basin vulnerable to nutrient pollution, as are many other watersheds with CAFOs, δ13C and δ15N stable isotopic signatures were identified from water samples collected within the Northeast Cape Fear, Black, and lower Cape Fear River watersheds to trace nutrient sources and their distribution downstream. The spatial and temporal variability of nutrients and isotopic signatures were also identified to understand water quality impacts of animal waste spraying season and proximity to CAFOs. Our results showed that significantly enriched δ15N signatures characterized sites in close proximity to CAFOs as well as point-source wastewater discharge areas, while the opposite was true for an unimpacted control stream and two estuarine sites. Additionally, the impacted sites yielded significantly (p < 0.05) higher nitrate concentrations than control and estuarine sites. Statistical analyses demonstrated that nitrate concentrations were positively correlated with heavier δ15N signatures, suggesting that animal waste, as well as human wastewater, are relatively more important sources of N to this large watershed than fertilizers from traditional row crop agriculture. Our results also suggested that during appropriate hydrological conditions CAFO-derived N can be detected many kilometers downstream from freshwater sources areas to the estuary.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Amini, A., Aponte-Morales, V., Wang, M., Dilbeck, M., Lahav, O., Zhang, Q., et al. (2017). Cost-effective treatment of swine wastes through recovery of energy and nutrients. Waste Management, 69, 508–517. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2017.08.041.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bateman, A. S., & Kelly, S. D. (2007). Fertilizer nitrogen isotope signatures. Isotopes in Environmental and Health Studies, 43, 237–247.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Burkholder, J. M., Libra, B., Weyer, P., Heathcote, S., Kolpin, D., Thorne, P. S., & Wichman, M. (2007). Impacts of waste from concentrated animal feeding operations on water quality. Environmental Health Perspectives, 115, 308–312. https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.8839.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cahoon, L., Mikucki, J., & Mallin, M. A. (1999). Nitrogen and phosphorus imports to the Cape Fear and Neuse River basins to support intensive livestock production. Environmental Science and Technology, 33, 410–415. https://doi.org/10.1021/es9805371.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cambardella, C. A., & Elliott, E. T. (1992). Particulate soil organic-matter changes across a grassland cultivation sequence. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 56, 777–783. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj1992.03615995005600030017x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Choi, E. (2007). Piggery waste management. London: IWA Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Conrad-Acuña, T., Fisher, T., Gonzalez, P., Hatcher, A., Shooter, M., & Spearman, B. (2019). Bermudagrass production in North Carolina [PDF] (pp. 8-9). Raleigh: North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service Retrieved from https://duplin.ces.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/AgBermudagrassAG-493.pdf?fwd=no.

    Google Scholar 

  • Costanzo, S. D., O’Donohue, M. J., Dennison, W. C., Loneragan, N. R., & Thomas, M. (2001). A new approach for detecting and mapping sewage impacts. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 42, 149–156.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Day, R. W., & Quinn, G. P. (1989). Comparisons of treatments after an analysis of variance in ecology. Ecological Monographs, 59, 433–463. https://doi.org/10.2307/1943075.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Environmental Working Group (EWG) and Waterkeeper Alliance. 2016. Fields of filth. Licensed data used with permission of EWG and Waterkeeper Alliance. Map accessible online at ewg.org and Waterkeeper.org.

  • Fernandes, A. M., Hissler, C., da Conceição, F. T., Spatti Jr., E. P., & Mortatti, J. (2016). Combined analysis of trace elements and isotopic composition of particulate organic matter in suspended sediment to assess their origin and flux in a tropical disturbed watershed. Environmental Pollution, 218, 844–854.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fry, B. (2006). Stable isotope ecology. New York, NY: Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Haines, J., and L. Staley (Eds.). 2004. Risk management evaluation for concentrated animal feeding operations (EPA/600R-04/042). Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Risk Management Research Laboratory. Retrieved from https://nepis.epa.gov

  • Harden, S.L. 2015. Surface-water quality in agricultural watersheds of the North Carolina Coastal Plain associated with concentrated animal feeding operations: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2015–5080, 55, doi:https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20155080

  • Heaton, T. H. E. (1986). Isotopic studies of nitrogen pollution in the hydrosphere and atmosphere: a review. Chemical Geology, 59, 87–102.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hribar, C. (2010). Understanding concentrated animal feeding operations and their impact on communities. National Association of local boards of health. Ohio: Bowling Green.

    Google Scholar 

  • Huddleston, J.H. 1996. How soil properties affect groundwater vulnerability to pesticides contamination. Oregon state extension service. Available: http://wwwagcomm.ads.orst.edu/AgComWebFile/EdMat/EM8559.pdf

  • Karr, J. D., Showers, W. J., Gilliam, J. W., & Andres, A. S. (2001). Tracing nitrate transport and environmental impact from intensive swine farming using delta nitrogen-15. Journal of Environmental Quality, 30, 1163–1175.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kellogg, R. (2000). Potential priority watersheds for protection of water quality from contamination by manure nutrients. Proc. Wat. Environ. Fed., 2000, 646–665. https://doi.org/10.2175/193864700784995064.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kendall, C., & McDonnell, J. (1998). Isotope tracers in catchment hydrology (p. 531). Amsterdam: Elsevier.

    Google Scholar 

  • Koroleff, F. (1983). Determination of total nitrogen and phosphorus. In K. Grasshof, M. Erhardt, & K. Kremiing (Eds.), Methods for seawater analysis (2nd ed., pp. 162–173). Weinhelm: Verlag Chemie.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lapointe, B. E., Herren, L., & Paule, A. (2017). Septic systems contribute to nutrient pollution and harmful algal blooms in the St. Lucie Estuary, Southeast Florida, USA. Harmful Algae, 70, 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hal.2017.09.005.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Macko, S. A., & Ostrom, N. E. (1994). Pollution studies using stable isotopes. In K. Lajtha & R. H. Michener (Eds.), Stable. Isot. Eco. Envir. Sci (pp. 42–65). London: Blackwell Scientific.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mallin, M. A., & Cahoon, L. B. (2003). Industrialized animal production - a major source of nutrient and microbial pollution to aquatic ecosystems. Population and Environment, 24, 369–385. https://doi.org/10.1023/a:1023690824045.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mallin, M. A., & McIver, M. R. (2018). Season matters when sampling streams for swine CAFO waste pollution impacts. Journal of Water and Health, 16, 78–86. https://doi.org/10.2166/wh.2017.194.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mallin, M. A., McIver, M. R., Ensign, S. H., & Cahoon, L. B. (2004). Photosynthetic and heterotrophic impacts of nutrient loading to blackwater streams. Ecological Applications, 14, 823–838. https://doi.org/10.1890/02-5217.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mallin, M. A., Johnson, V. L., Ensign, S. H., & MacPherson, T. A. (2006). Factors contributing to hypoxia in rivers, lakes, and streams. Limnology and Oceanography, 51, 690–701. https://doi.org/10.4319/L-1o.2006.51.1_part_2.0690.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mallin, M. A., McIver, M. R., Robuck, A., & Dickens, A. (2015). Industrial swine and poultry production causes chronic nutrient and fecal microbial stream pollution. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution, 226. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-015-2669-y.

  • Martin, K., Emanuel, R., & Vose, J. (2018). Terra incognita: the unknown risks to environmental quality posed by the spatial distribution and abundance of concentrated animal feeding operations. The Science of the Total Environment, 642, 887–893. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.06.072.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McBride, W. D., & Key, N. (2013). U.S. hog production from 1992 to 2009: Technology, restructuring, and productivity growth (ERR-158). U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service. Retrieved from https://www.ers.usda.gov/webdocs/publications/45148/40364_err158.pdf

  • National Climatic Data Center (NCDC). 2018. Climate of North Carolina [PDF file]. Retrieved from https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/climatenormals/clim60/states/Clim_NC_01.pdf

  • Nebbioso, A., & Piccolo, A. (2013). Molecular characterization of dissolved organic matter (DOM): a critical review. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, 405, 109. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-012-6363-2.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ). 2016. List of permitted animal facilities. Available online at https://deq.nc.gov/cafo-map.

  • North, J., Frew, R., & Peake, B. (2004). The use of carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios to identify landfill leachate contamination: Green Island Landfill, Dunedin, New Zealand. Environment International, 30, 631–637. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2003.12.006.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Robinson, P.J. 2005. Weather & climate (Stuart, A.W. Ed.). Revised from the North Carolina atlas revisited. Retrieved from https://www.ncpedia.org/climate

  • Rosov, K. A., Mallin, M. A., & Cahoon, L. B. (2020). Waste nutrients from U.S. animal feeding operations: Regulations are inconsistent across states and inadequately assess nutrient export risk. Journal of Environmental Management, 269, 110738. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lenvman.2020.110738.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schlotzhauer, S. D. (2009). Elementary statistics using SAS. Cary: SAS Institute, Inc..

    Google Scholar 

  • Smock, L.A. and E. Gilinsky. 1992. Coastal plain blackwater streams. In: Biodiversity of the Southeastern United States (C. T. Hackney, S. M. Adams & W. H. Martin, eds). John and Wiley and Sons, Inc. New York, NY.

  • Thornton, S. F., & McManus, J. (1994). Application of organic carbon and nitrogen stable isotope and C/N ratios as source indicators of organic matter provenance in estuarine systems: Evidence from the Tay Estuary, Scotland. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 38, 219–233. https://doi.org/10.1006/ecss.1994.1015.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). 2002. Wastewater technology fact sheet: anaerobic lagoons (EPA 382-F-02-009). Retrieved from https://nepis.epa.gov/

  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). 2004. National Risk Management Research Laboratory. Risk Management Evaluation for Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations. EPA/600R-04/042.

  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). 2017. NPDES compliance inspection manual (305-K-17-001, Rev. ed.). Retrieved from https://nepis.epa.gov

  • U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Groundwater Watch. 2019. Retrieved from https://groundwaterwatch.usgs.gov/AWLSites.asp?mt=g&S=335631078003606&ncd=awl

  • Wassenaar, L. I. (1995). Evaluation of the origin and fate of nitrate in the Abbottsford aquifer using the isotopes of 15N and 18O in NO3−. Applied Geochemistry, 10, 391–405.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wing, S., Freedman, S., & Band, L. (2002). The potential impact of flooding on confined animal feeding operations in eastern North Carolina. Environmental Health Perspectives, 110, 387–391.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We thank Matthew McIver, Nick Iraola, Amy Grogan, Kim Breen and Adam Lucas for their assistance in collecting and processing samples. Additionally, we thank Kim Duernberger and UNCWiRMS for the generous help in running the isotope analyses. We thank Kerry Mapes for providing CAFO data for POULT and the Environmental Working Group (ewg.org) and Waterkeeper Alliance (waterkeeper.org) for permissions to use this licensed data pertaining to locations of North Carolina poultry operations. We further thank Drs. L.B. Cahoon and S.A. Skrabal for valuable study input.

Funding

Funding for this project was provided by UNCW Department of Earth and Ocean Sciences, Center for the Support of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships (CSURF), and the Lower Cape Fear River Program.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth and Ocean Sciences, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, NC, 28409, USA

    Colleen N. Brown & Ai Ning Loh

  2. Center for Marine Science, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, NC, 28409, USA

    Colleen N. Brown, Michael A. Mallin & Ai Ning Loh

  3. Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, FL, 33149, USA

    Colleen N. Brown

Authors
  1. Colleen N. Brown
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Michael A. Mallin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ai Ning Loh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Colleen N. Brown.

Additional information

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Brown, C.N., Mallin, M.A. & Loh, A.N. Tracing nutrient pollution from industrialized animal production in a large coastal watershed. Environ Monit Assess 192, 515 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-020-08433-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-020-08433-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation