TY - JOUR
T1 - Response to comments on Vengosh et al. (2022)
T2 - The strontium isotope fingerprint of phosphate rocks mining
AU - Vengosh, Avner
AU - Wang, Zhen
AU - Williams, Gordon
AU - Hill, Robert
AU - Coyte, Rachel
AU - Dwyer, Gary S.
PY - 2023/4/20
Y1 - 2023/4/20
N2 - Vengosh et al. (2022) presented integrated geochemical data that included major and trace elements coupled with strontium isotope variations in groundwater that were used to elucidate the source of salinization of groundwater and Ein Bokek spring in the northeastern Negev in Israel. The study included analyses of phosphate rocks and wastewater from the phosphate mine and fertilizer production operations in Mishor Rotem Industries. The study revealed that the phosphate mining generates wastewater with distinctive geochemical and strontium isotope compositions. Since the geochemical and Sr isotope compositions of the salinized groundwater were different from those of the phosphate wastewater but similar to a different wastewater source, Vengosh et al. (2022) excluded the phosphate mining effluent as the major contamination source. These results contradict previous studies (e.g., Burg and Guttman, 2019) that claimed that phosphate mining was the major source of contamination without characterizing the geochemical composition of wastewaters from the phosphate rock mining. We are thankful to Burg et al. (2023) for raising important issues related to the salinization of groundwater in the northeastern Negev in Israel and for highlighting the novelty of using strontium isotopes for elucidating the source of groundwater contamination in the context of phosphate mining and fertilizer production.
AB - Vengosh et al. (2022) presented integrated geochemical data that included major and trace elements coupled with strontium isotope variations in groundwater that were used to elucidate the source of salinization of groundwater and Ein Bokek spring in the northeastern Negev in Israel. The study included analyses of phosphate rocks and wastewater from the phosphate mine and fertilizer production operations in Mishor Rotem Industries. The study revealed that the phosphate mining generates wastewater with distinctive geochemical and strontium isotope compositions. Since the geochemical and Sr isotope compositions of the salinized groundwater were different from those of the phosphate wastewater but similar to a different wastewater source, Vengosh et al. (2022) excluded the phosphate mining effluent as the major contamination source. These results contradict previous studies (e.g., Burg and Guttman, 2019) that claimed that phosphate mining was the major source of contamination without characterizing the geochemical composition of wastewaters from the phosphate rock mining. We are thankful to Burg et al. (2023) for raising important issues related to the salinization of groundwater in the northeastern Negev in Israel and for highlighting the novelty of using strontium isotopes for elucidating the source of groundwater contamination in the context of phosphate mining and fertilizer production.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85147337604&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.161878
DO - 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.161878
M3 - Letter
C2 - 36731570
AN - SCOPUS:85147337604
SN - 0048-9697
VL - 870
JO - Science of the Total Environment
JF - Science of the Total Environment
M1 - 161878
ER -