Uranium in the Environment: Behavior and Toxicity

Bird, Graham

doi:10.1007/978-1-4419-0851-3_294

Cited by 6 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 127 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The affinity of U to be incorporated into phosphate minerals, with the potential to form stable uranyl phosphate minerals (Jerden and Sinha, 2003;Ohnuki et al, 2004;Wellman et al, 2007), can lead to highly elevated U contents (up to 250 µg g -1 ; Altschuler et al, 1958;Bird, 2012). Indeed, previous geochemical analysis of Lake Baikal sediments showed that intervals enriched in phosphate minerals (especially vivianite) exhibit U concentrations of up to 90 µg g -1 (Zhmodik et al, 2003;; see also Fagel et al, 2005), at least one order of magnitude higher than in most marine sediments (Plank and Langmuir, 1998).…”

Section: The Relationship Between Uranium and Phosphorusmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Elevated uranium concentrations in Lake Baikal sediments: Burial and early diagenesis

et al. 2016

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The water column of Lake Baikal (Siberia) is pervasively oxic and O 2 penetrates several cm into the sediment, followed by distinct layers of Fe/Mn oxide that undergo reductive-dissolution/oxidativeprecipitation cycles. Uranium (U) contents of the oxic surface sediment layers were ~15 µg g-1 , which is unparalleled in oxygenated lakes. To understand the processes leading to this enrichment we investigated the geochemical composition of the particulate matter and pore water of four sediment cores from different locations in the lake and performed mass balance calculations based on sediment mass accumulation rates and published loads from major tributaries. The comparison of loads and export of U in Lake Baikal suggested that current estimates of loads are too low by a factor of about 3 compared to sediment mass accumulation rates. Peak loads during spring ice melt in tributaries that are difficult to monitor and quantify might be the main cause for the deviation. The high U concentrations in the lake sediments originated from the scavenging of U in the water column through association with settling organic particles and particulate Fe(III)-and, to a lesser extent, Mn(IV)-oxides. We outline the hypothesis that two distinct U phases, lithogenic and non-lithogenic U reach the lake sediment and that authigenic U is subsequently formed under reducing conditions within the sediment. In some cores we found that most U was remobilized during the degradation of organic matter, in particular within the top oxygenated layer of the sediment. Significant enrichments prevailed due to U adsorption to and/or co-precipitation with Fe-oxides. When Feoxides and, to a lesser extent, Mn-oxides were reductively dissolved, they released U to the pore water, leading to peak dissolved U concentrations in the anoxic sediment, which in turn, precipitated as authigenic U under predominantly sulphate-reducing conditions. The onset of the accumulation of authigenic U coincided with the formation of distinct Fe/Mn oxide layers above. We argue that the resilience of Fe-oxides (especially crystalline goethite and hematite), in association with phosphate, even within reducing (but non-sulfidic) sediments support the burial of substantial amounts of U.

show abstract

Section: The Relationship Between Uranium and Phosphorusmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, U concentrations of up to 250 µg g -1 may be present in phosphatic rocks, and fine-grained sedimentary rocks typically contain more U than coarser-grained rocks due to the presence of clays and organic matter to which U adsorbs (e.g. Bird, 2012).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Elevated uranium concentrations in Lake Baikal sediments: Burial and early diagenesis

et al. 2016

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Uranium is a radioactive element, which is both chemically and radiologically toxic [1]. Uranium connately and ubiquitously occurs in coal.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Abundance, Distribution, and Modes of Occurrence of Uranium in Chinese Coals

Chen

Yao

et al. 2017

Minerals

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Due to its environmental and resource impacts, the geochemistry of uranium in coal is of both academic and practical significance. In order to give a comprehensive summary about the geochemistry of uranium in coals, the abundance, distribution, and modes of occurrence of uranium in Chinese coals were reviewed in this paper. Although some coals from southwestern and northwestern China are significantly enriched in uranium, the common Chinese coals are of a comparable uranium concentration to the world coals. The roof and floor rocks, and parting of coalbeds, or coal benches that are close to the surrounding rock are favorable hosts for uranium in one coalbed. The uranium concentrations in coals of different ages decrease in this order, e.g., Paleogene and Neogene > Late Permian > Late Triassic > Late Carboniferous and Early Permian > Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous > Early and Middle Jurassic. Uranium in Chinese coals is mainly associated with organic matter, and is correspondingly enriched in subbituminous coal and lignite.

show abstract

“…4 Uranium is the most common naturally occurring radionuclide that possesses different forms and oxidation states. 8 Excessive uranium quantities are discharged to the environment from many anthropogenic activities e.g., mining, milling, spent fuel reprocessing, improper nuclear waste management, nuclear testing, nuclear accidents, and phosphate fertilizers industry. 8 Such activities increase the potential of uranium contamination in natural waters (ground and surface water) that may be adsorbed and concentrated by plants and consequently reach the food chain.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…8 Excessive uranium quantities are discharged to the environment from many anthropogenic activities e.g., mining, milling, spent fuel reprocessing, improper nuclear waste management, nuclear testing, nuclear accidents, and phosphate fertilizers industry. 8 Such activities increase the potential of uranium contamination in natural waters (ground and surface water) that may be adsorbed and concentrated by plants and consequently reach the food chain. 8 Accordingly, uranium would hand over to humans and could nally accumulate in various organs to cause acute or chronic health problems; such as tubular necrosis, skin corrosion, leukemia, bone cancer, kidney failure, liver or brain damage, and even death.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%