37Cl, 15N, 13C isotopic analysis of common agro-chemicals for identifying non-point source agricultural contaminants

The isotopic compositions of commercially available herbicides were analyzed to determine their respective 15N, 13C and 37Cl signatures for the purposes of developing a discrete tool for tracing and identifying non-point source contaminants in agricultural watersheds. Findings demonstrate that of the agrochemicals evaluated, chlorine stable isotopes signatures range between δ37Cl = −4.55‰ and +3.40‰, whereas most naturally occurring chlorine stable isotopes signatures, including those of road salt, sewage sludge and fertilizers, vary in a narrow range about the Standard Mean Ocean Chloride (SMOC) between −2.00‰ and +1.00‰. Nitrogen stable isotope values varied widely from δ15N = −10.86‰ to +1.44‰ and carbon stable isotope analysis gave an observed range between δ13C = −37.13‰ and −21.35‰ for the entire suite of agro-chemicals analyzed. When nitrogen, carbon and chlorine stable isotope analyses were compared in a cross-correlation analysis, statistically independent isotopic signatures exist suggesting a new potential tracer tool for identifying herbicides in the environment.