Nitrate Leaching in Florida Urban Environments

3 Introduction Numerous counties within the State of Florida have proposed restrictions on the sale and application of fertilizer. Fertilizer nitrogen is a pollutant in Florida's shallow groundwater. Excessive nitrate-N in drinking water can cause low oxygen in infant's bloodstream (blue baby syndrome), spontaneous abortions, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Average groundwater background nitrate concentrations are less than 2 mg/L. Nitrate concentrations above 4 mg/L can affect human activities and the United States Environmental Protection Agency has established 10 mg/L as the maximum contamination level (Nolan, 2001). Excessive nitrate-N in the Florida environment creates " red tide " fish kills and is a component of accelerated euthropication in the landscape when combined with excessive phosphorous applications. State, county, and local officials are debating what the appropriate restrictions on nitrate-N fertilizers given the above negative consequences of excessive nitrate-N. Some debate has focused on banning fertilizer sales and applications in urban areas during the rainy summer months. The highly urbanized Pinellas and Hillsborough Counties had extensive debates in 2010 over this issue. This literature review will examine the components of nitrate-N fertilizer debate concentrating on impacts to the urban environment. The review will begin by focusing on nitrate behavior in soils and the susceptibility of Florida soils to nitrate leaching. Then, the review will concentrate on nitrate sources and reactions specifically relating to urban environments. Within the discussion on nitrate-N in urban areas, content will 4 include discussion on theories differentiating urban and non-urban environments and land use. Finally, this literature review will evaluate the need for fertilizer restrictions based on the evidence collected and offer a balanced solution to curb excessive nitrogen in Florida groundwater.