Urbanization and Environmental Contaminants

A special issue of Nitrogen (ISSN 2504-3129).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 May 2021) | Viewed by 4799

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA
Interests: fossil materials; ocean cycling of nitrogen; abiotic synthesis; stable isotope analysis; denitrification; nitrification; nitrogen pollution; oceanic dead zones
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Guest Editor
Department of Environmental Sciences, American University, Washington, USA
Interests: urban geochemistry; isotope geochemistry; nutrient pollution

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Human populations are increasingly concentrated in urban areas, and by 2050, 70% of the world's population will live in cities (UN-Habitat). As the urban population grows, increases in impervious surfaces, combined-flow sewers, and non-point source contaminants put water resources at risk. These include changes in the discharge of potential carcinogens, elevated organic/inorganic nutrients, and weathering products from roads and buildings. Urban surface waters present unique challenges to mitigation efforts. Both rivers and small urban lakes are likely to suffer similar non-point source contamination. Faced with these challenges, municipalities have increasingly become interested in reclaiming waterways by introducing "green" technologies or adaptations aimed at improving water quality. Identifying the sources, effects, and solutions to the complex issues facing urban surface waters requires a cadre of scientists, managers, and community activists to conceive and implement solutions.

In this Special Issue, we welcome submissions focusing on both the changing water quality and biogeochemistry of urban surface waters, as well as efforts to reduce adverse impacts on these systems.

We would encourage submissions from presenters at AGU (December 2020) as well others with related research.

Prof. Stephen Macko
Prof. Stephen MacAvoy
Guest Editors

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

13 pages, 2933 KiB  
Article
Pollution Reduction in Throughflow from Vegetated and Non-Vegetated, Foam-Based Surfaces and Green Roofs
by Sydney Mucha, Glenn Williamson and Stephen E. MacAvoy
Nitrogen 2020, 1(1), 21-33; https://doi.org/10.3390/nitrogen1010004 - 5 Aug 2018
Viewed by 3846
Abstract
The ability of foam-based unplanted and green surfaces (Aqualok™) to remove pollutants (total suspended solids (TSS), NO3, NH4, total organic carbon (TOC) and total phosphorus (TP)) from direct precipitation and roof runoff passing through the surfaces was assessed. The [...] Read more.
The ability of foam-based unplanted and green surfaces (Aqualok™) to remove pollutants (total suspended solids (TSS), NO3, NH4, total organic carbon (TOC) and total phosphorus (TP)) from direct precipitation and roof runoff passing through the surfaces was assessed. The assessments were conducted using unplanted Aqualok™ and planted Aqualok™ roof panels and a bioswale Aqualok™ installed on two Fire and Emergency Medical Service Stations (FEMSs) in Washington, D.C., USA. During a three-year period, impacts on water chemistry were evaluated by examining overall averages as well as performance over time. Upon installation, all Aqualok™ surfaces released a “pulse” of TSS and NO3, which decreased over time. TP concentrations from the planted panels were elevated relative to conventional roof runoff throughout the study. TOC was generally higher for planted Aqualok™ compared to unplanted Aqualok™, and did not decrease over time. Excluding the three months post-installation, TSS in throughflow from planted and unplanted Aqualok™ surfaces was 88% and 90% lower, respectively, than in runoff from a conventional tar and gravel roof. No significant differences between green surface throughflow and conventional roof runoff for NO3 or NH4 were observed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urbanization and Environmental Contaminants)
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