Distribution and Relationship of Uranium and Radium Along an Allochthonously Dominated Wetland Gradient

Uranium mining may pose a large threat for freshwater ecosystems, caused by elevated concentrations of metals/radionuclides in drainage water. Important pollutants of such waters are uranium (U) and radium (Ra), because of their impact due to both radio- as well as chemo-toxicity. Despite the compre...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Archives of environmental contamination and toxicology 2015-02, Vol.68 (2), p.317-322
Main Authors: Nassour, Mohammad, Weiske, Arndt, Schaller, Jörg, Brackhage, Carsten, Gert Dudel, E.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aquatic ecosystems
Calibration
Carbon
Drainage
Drainage water
Earth and Environmental Science
Ecosystems
Ecotoxicology
Environment
Environmental Chemistry
Environmental Health
Environmental impact
Fixation
Freshwater
Freshwater ecosystems
Metal concentrations
Mining
Mining industry
Monitoring/Environmental Analysis
Pollution
Ponds
Radiation Monitoring
Radium
Radium - analysis
Retention
Sediments
Soil Science & Conservation
Speciation
Spectrum analysis
Streams
Studies
Transport
Uranium
Uranium - analysis
Water
Water Pollutants, Radioactive - analysis
Water pollution
Wetlands
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Uranium mining may pose a large threat for freshwater ecosystems, caused by elevated concentrations of metals/radionuclides in drainage water. Important pollutants of such waters are uranium (U) and radium (Ra), because of their impact due to both radio- as well as chemo-toxicity. Despite the comprehensive knowledge about specific element speciation as well as fixation processes, less is known about the retention of U and Ra at a higher level of complexity (within allochthonous ecosystems as predominant for low order streams). Consequently, we investigated the distribution and retention potential of allochthonous ecosystems regarding U and Ra as well as changing U/Ra ratios. We found U predominantly transported over long distances, whereas Ra mainly precipitates immediately after reaching the surface, i.e. in the spring area. Although high U accumulation in organic rich sediments is found, still high transport rates are detected. Low overall fixation of U within the allochthonously dominated wetland results in an U transport over long distances. Consequently, large areas are affected by U mining activities and its post-mining impact, with U being more relevant compared to Ra.
ISSN:0090-4341
1432-0703
DOI:10.1007/s00244-014-0117-4