I am working with water quality data from a construction site, where elevated total nitrogen concentrations (> 20 mg/l) were observed. There might be several reasons behind the high nitrogen loads, such as illicit waste water discharges and the leaching of nitrogen from the soil after logging, but I would love to have some estimates about the impacts of blasting, which could be an important source.
Hi Hussein,
and thank you for your reply. I have to say that I have no idea about those chemicals. At the moment I am trying to get some background information about the possible impact of blasting on nitrogen concentrations. I am finishing my PhD thesis about the impacts of urbanization on runoff generation and water quality using monitoring data from a 10-ha construction site and from two control catchments (low density and medium density residential areas). I don't have possibility to exactly quantify all possible sources affecting nitrogen export, but I know that it has been affected by e.g. pumping of water from the building lots. In addition to TN, I also have data for TP, COD, and SS, thus, rather conventional water quality variables. In the published research I have found some studies about the leaching of nitrogen resulting from the soil disturbance and logging, and some conclusions about the impacts of fertilizers, but I have been told that blasting may also be a source.
I think it's essential to know if there are nitric or nitrous compunds in the runoff water, because the ground where the water flow may have a natural background concentration of nitrogen. So you may establish with nitric and nitrous concentration eventually some previous farmland activity also nearby. In addition the BOD and COD may also help you to understand the not blasting origin.
I have the experience of NO3 in mines water of Chalkidiki peninsula Northern Greece where big quantities of nitrogen explosives are used and the mine waters are low in nitrogen compounds
I have the experience of NO3 in mines water of Chalkidiki peninsula Northern Greece where big quantities of nitrogen explosives are used and the mine waters are low in nitrogen compounds
Just back from holiday... Thank you all for your new answers!
Nikos, do you know any publication about the nitrogen content of those mine waters you mentioned about? Can you say what is the estimated concentration or load of total nitrogen or nitrate resulting from those explosives?
Based on the answers I have gotten, I think that there is a very limited amount of research conducted on nitrogen loading from explosives and their impact on runoff quality.
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