Geochemical Distribution and Environmental Risks of Radionuclides in Soils and Sediments Runoff of a Uranium Mining Area in South China
Uranium mining activities have contributed to the distribution and uptake of radionuclides, which have increased the active concentrations of natural radionuclides in environmental media, causing elevated human health risks. The present study aims to assess the spatial distribution characteristics o...
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MDPI AG
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Toxics |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/12/1/95 |
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| author | Haidong Li Qiugui Wang Chunyan Zhang Weigang Su Yujun Ma Qiangqiang Zhong Enzong Xiao Fei Xia Guodong Zheng Tangfu Xiao |
| author_facet | Haidong Li Qiugui Wang Chunyan Zhang Weigang Su Yujun Ma Qiangqiang Zhong Enzong Xiao Fei Xia Guodong Zheng Tangfu Xiao |
| author_sort | Haidong Li |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Uranium mining activities have contributed to the distribution and uptake of radionuclides, which have increased the active concentrations of natural radionuclides in environmental media, causing elevated human health risks. The present study aims to assess the spatial distribution characteristics of natural radionuclides in the surface soils and river sediments of the typical granite uranium mining area in South China, as well as investigate the geochemical features of natural radionuclides in the soil and sediments to understand their migration processes. The activity concentrations for <sup>238</sup>U, <sup>226</sup>Ra, <sup>232</sup>Th, and <sup>40</sup>K ranged from 17–3925 Bq/kg, 50–1180 Bq/kg, 29–459 Bq/kg, and 240–1890 Bq/kg, respectively. The open-pit mining areas and tailings pond locations exhibited the highest concentrations of activity for all these radionuclides. This distribution points to an elevated potential health risk due to radiological exposure in these specific areas. Additionally, the values of radium equivalent activity (Ra<sub>eq</sub>) and annual gonadal dose equivalent (AGDE) in those areas were higher than the limits recommended by ICRP (2021). <sup>238</sup>U and <sup>226</sup>Ra have a significant correlation (0.724), and the cluster analysis was showing a statistically meaningful cluster below 5 indicated that they have similar behavior during parent rock weathering and watershed erosion, and the distribution of <sup>232</sup>Th and <sup>40</sup>K were influenced by the addition of rock types. The activity ratios of <sup>226</sup>Ra/<sup>238</sup>U, <sup>226</sup>Ra/<sup>232</sup>Th, <sup>238</sup>U/<sup>40</sup>K, and <sup>226</sup>Ra/<sup>40</sup>K variation indicated that <sup>40</sup>K more mobile than <sup>226</sup>Ra and <sup>238</sup>U, U(VI) was reduced to U(IV) by organic matter in the downstream area and re-entered into the sediment during the sediment surface runoff in the small watershed of the uranium ore open-pit mining area. Therefore, it is necessary to further seal up and repair the tailings landfill area. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T10:33:49Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d559e462bc144999b0009fdc29ed5ef7 |
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| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T10:33:49Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
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| spelling | doaj.art-d559e462bc144999b0009fdc29ed5ef72024-01-26T18:42:04ZengMDPI AGToxics2305-63042024-01-011219510.3390/toxics12010095Geochemical Distribution and Environmental Risks of Radionuclides in Soils and Sediments Runoff of a Uranium Mining Area in South ChinaHaidong Li0Qiugui Wang1Chunyan Zhang2Weigang Su3Yujun Ma4Qiangqiang Zhong5Enzong Xiao6Fei Xia7Guodong Zheng8Tangfu Xiao9State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Resources and Environment, East China University of Technology, Nanchang 330013, ChinaKey Laboratory for Water Quality and Conservation of the Pearl River Delta, Ministry of Education, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, ChinaDisaster Reduction and Disaster Preparedness Center of Jiangxi, Nanchang 330036, ChinaKey Laboratory of Comprehensive and Highly Efficient Utilization of Salt Lake Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Environment of Salt Lakes, Qinghai Institute of Salt Lakes, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining 810016, ChinaKey Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Land Surface Processes and Ecological Conservation (Ministry of Education), Qinghai Normal University, Xining 810008, ChinaThird Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, ChinaKey Laboratory for Water Quality and Conservation of the Pearl River Delta, Ministry of Education, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Nuclear Resources and Environment, East China University of Technology, Nanchang 330013, ChinaResearch Institute No. 290, China National Nuclear Corporation, Shaoguan 512029, ChinaKey Laboratory for Water Quality and Conservation of the Pearl River Delta, Ministry of Education, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, ChinaUranium mining activities have contributed to the distribution and uptake of radionuclides, which have increased the active concentrations of natural radionuclides in environmental media, causing elevated human health risks. The present study aims to assess the spatial distribution characteristics of natural radionuclides in the surface soils and river sediments of the typical granite uranium mining area in South China, as well as investigate the geochemical features of natural radionuclides in the soil and sediments to understand their migration processes. The activity concentrations for <sup>238</sup>U, <sup>226</sup>Ra, <sup>232</sup>Th, and <sup>40</sup>K ranged from 17–3925 Bq/kg, 50–1180 Bq/kg, 29–459 Bq/kg, and 240–1890 Bq/kg, respectively. The open-pit mining areas and tailings pond locations exhibited the highest concentrations of activity for all these radionuclides. This distribution points to an elevated potential health risk due to radiological exposure in these specific areas. Additionally, the values of radium equivalent activity (Ra<sub>eq</sub>) and annual gonadal dose equivalent (AGDE) in those areas were higher than the limits recommended by ICRP (2021). <sup>238</sup>U and <sup>226</sup>Ra have a significant correlation (0.724), and the cluster analysis was showing a statistically meaningful cluster below 5 indicated that they have similar behavior during parent rock weathering and watershed erosion, and the distribution of <sup>232</sup>Th and <sup>40</sup>K were influenced by the addition of rock types. The activity ratios of <sup>226</sup>Ra/<sup>238</sup>U, <sup>226</sup>Ra/<sup>232</sup>Th, <sup>238</sup>U/<sup>40</sup>K, and <sup>226</sup>Ra/<sup>40</sup>K variation indicated that <sup>40</sup>K more mobile than <sup>226</sup>Ra and <sup>238</sup>U, U(VI) was reduced to U(IV) by organic matter in the downstream area and re-entered into the sediment during the sediment surface runoff in the small watershed of the uranium ore open-pit mining area. Therefore, it is necessary to further seal up and repair the tailings landfill area.https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/12/1/95natural radionuclidesgranite uranium mining areasradiological hazardsriver sediments and soils |
| spellingShingle | Haidong Li Qiugui Wang Chunyan Zhang Weigang Su Yujun Ma Qiangqiang Zhong Enzong Xiao Fei Xia Guodong Zheng Tangfu Xiao Geochemical Distribution and Environmental Risks of Radionuclides in Soils and Sediments Runoff of a Uranium Mining Area in South China Toxics natural radionuclides granite uranium mining areas radiological hazards river sediments and soils |
| title | Geochemical Distribution and Environmental Risks of Radionuclides in Soils and Sediments Runoff of a Uranium Mining Area in South China |
| title_full | Geochemical Distribution and Environmental Risks of Radionuclides in Soils and Sediments Runoff of a Uranium Mining Area in South China |
| title_fullStr | Geochemical Distribution and Environmental Risks of Radionuclides in Soils and Sediments Runoff of a Uranium Mining Area in South China |
| title_full_unstemmed | Geochemical Distribution and Environmental Risks of Radionuclides in Soils and Sediments Runoff of a Uranium Mining Area in South China |
| title_short | Geochemical Distribution and Environmental Risks of Radionuclides in Soils and Sediments Runoff of a Uranium Mining Area in South China |
| title_sort | geochemical distribution and environmental risks of radionuclides in soils and sediments runoff of a uranium mining area in south china |
| topic | natural radionuclides granite uranium mining areas radiological hazards river sediments and soils |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/12/1/95 |
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