Next Article in Journal
Problematic Internet Use, Non-Medical Use of Prescription Drugs, and Depressive Symptoms among Adolescents: A Large-Scale Study in China
Next Article in Special Issue
Effects of Sulfamethoxazole and 2-Ethylhexyl-4-Methoxycinnamate on the Dissimilatory Nitrate Reduction Processes and N2O Release in Sediments in the Yarlung Zangbo River
Previous Article in Journal
Chloramine Disinfection-Induced Nitrification Activities and Their Potential Public Health Risk Indications within Deposits of a Drinking Water Supply System
Previous Article in Special Issue
Characteristics and Assessment of Toxic Metal Contamination in Surface Water and Sediments Near a Uranium Mining Area
 
 
Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
Journals
IJERPH
Volume 17
Issue 3
10.3390/ijerph17030773
ijerph-logo
Submit to this Journal Review for this Journal Propose a Special Issue
► Article Menu

Article Menu

share Share announcement Help format_quote Cite question_answer Discuss in SciProfiles
first_page
settings
Order Article Reprints
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
Article

Occurrence and Distribution of Uranium in a Hydrological Cycle around a Uranium Mill Tailings Pond, Southern China

by
Wenjie Ma
,
Bai Gao
*,
Yadan Guo
,
Zhanxue Sun
,
Yanhong Zhang
,
Gongxin Chen
,
Xiaojie Zhu
and
Chunyan Zhang
Fundamental Science on Radioactive Geology and Exploration Technology Laboratory, East China University of Technology, NanChang 330013, China
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(3), 773; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17030773
Submission received: 3 December 2019 / Revised: 17 January 2020 / Accepted: 22 January 2020 / Published: 26 January 2020
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Occurrence, Fate, Transport and Reactivity of Contaminants of Emerging Concern in Aquatic Ecosystems)
Browse Figures
Review Reports Versions Notes

Abstract

Uranium (U) mining activities, which lead to contamination in soils and waters (i.e., leachate from U mill tailings), cause serious environmental problems. However, limited research works have been conducted on U pollution associated with a whole soil-water system. In this study, a total of 110 samples including 96 solid and 14 water samples were collected to investigate the characteristics of U distribution in a natural soil-water system near a U mining tailings pond. Results showed that U concentrations ranged from 0.09 ± 0.02 mg/kg to 2.56 × 104± 23 mg/kg in solid samples, and varied greatly in different locations. For tailings sand samples, the highest U concentration (2.56× 104 ± 23 mg/kg) occurred at the depth of 80 cm underground, whereas, for paddy soil samples, the highest U concentration (5.22 ± 0.04 mg/kg) was found at surface layers. Geo-accumulation index and potential ecological hazard index were calculated to assess the hazard of U in the soils. The calculation results showed that half of the soil sampling sites were moderately polluted. For groundwater samples, U concentrations ranged from 0.55 ± 0.04 mg/L to 3.36 ± 0.02 mg/L with a mean value of 2.36 ± 0.36 mg/L, which was significantly lower than that of percolating waters (ranging from 4.56 ± 0.02 mg/L to 12.05 ± 0.04 mg/L, mean 7.91 ± 0.98 mg/L). The results of this study suggest that the distribution of U concentrations in a soil-water system was closely associated with hydrological cycles and U concentrations decreased with circulation path.
Keywords: water–rock interactions; critical zones; uranium contamination; Aquifer; hazard assessment water–rock interactions; critical zones; uranium contamination; Aquifer; hazard assessment

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Ma, W.; Gao, B.; Guo, Y.; Sun, Z.; Zhang, Y.; Chen, G.; Zhu, X.; Zhang, C. Occurrence and Distribution of Uranium in a Hydrological Cycle around a Uranium Mill Tailings Pond, Southern China. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17, 773. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17030773

AMA Style

Ma W, Gao B, Guo Y, Sun Z, Zhang Y, Chen G, Zhu X, Zhang C. Occurrence and Distribution of Uranium in a Hydrological Cycle around a Uranium Mill Tailings Pond, Southern China. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2020; 17(3):773. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17030773

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ma, Wenjie, Bai Gao, Yadan Guo, Zhanxue Sun, Yanhong Zhang, Gongxin Chen, Xiaojie Zhu, and Chunyan Zhang. 2020. "Occurrence and Distribution of Uranium in a Hydrological Cycle around a Uranium Mill Tailings Pond, Southern China" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 17, no. 3: 773. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17030773

APA Style

Ma, W., Gao, B., Guo, Y., Sun, Z., Zhang, Y., Chen, G., Zhu, X., & Zhang, C. (2020). Occurrence and Distribution of Uranium in a Hydrological Cycle around a Uranium Mill Tailings Pond, Southern China. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(3), 773. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17030773

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop