Preliminary Assessment of Uranium Contamination in Drinking Water Sources Near a Uranium Mine in the Siavonga District, Zambia, and Associated Health Risks

Haakonde, Titus; Yabe, John; Choongo, Kennedy; Chongwe, Gershom; Islam, Md. Saiful

doi:10.1007/s10230-020-00731-5

Cited by 43 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 69 publications

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“…Naturally occurring uranium in crystalline basement source rocks and alluvial aquifer material that promotes the formation of soluble uranyl carbonate complexes are thought to play a role in elevated uranium concentrations in wells in western India 73 . Haakonde et al 53 presented uranium concentrations in drinking water sources in the vicinity of a uranium mine in southern Zambia. Uranium concentrations in 65 borehole water samples ranged from 17 to 263 μg/L and concentrations in 41 shallow wells ranged from 7 to 199 μg/L 53 .…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Haakonde et al 53 presented uranium concentrations in drinking water sources in the vicinity of a uranium mine in southern Zambia. Uranium concentrations in 65 borehole water samples ranged from 17 to 263 μg/L and concentrations in 41 shallow wells ranged from 7 to 199 μg/L 53 . Haakonde et al 53 concluded that elevated uranium concentrations in groundwater samples are likely due to groundwater contamination from the mine’s wastewater dam.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Uranium concentrations in 65 borehole water samples ranged from 17 to 263 μg/L and concentrations in 41 shallow wells ranged from 7 to 199 μg/L 53 . Haakonde et al 53 concluded that elevated uranium concentrations in groundwater samples are likely due to groundwater contamination from the mine’s wastewater dam. Results from these studies show that uranium concentrations in groundwater can vary greatly and that elevated uranium concentrations in groundwater may be found in both mining-affected and non-mining settings.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Wells screened over multiple aquifer units in the High Plains aquifer have been implicated in elevated uranium concentrations whereby the pumping of the deeper system may pull shallower oxidized groundwater into deeper anoxic aquifers through nearby unused long-screen wells, thus releasing uranium from deeper aquifer sediments by oxidizing the uranium on exposed aquifer materials from U(IV) to U(VI) 45 . Poorly planned or operated uranium mining and milling facilities also may cause uranium to be released to groundwater systems, such as where mine wastewater or leach solution is allowed to infiltrate the subsurface 53 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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An assessment of uranium in groundwater in the Grand Canyon region

Tillman

Beisner

Anderson

et al. 2021

Sci Rep

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The Grand Canyon region in northern Arizona is a home or sacred place of origin for many Native Americans and is visited by over 6 million tourists each year. Most communities in the area depend upon groundwater for all water uses. Some of the highest-grade uranium ore in the United States also is found in the Grand Canyon region. A withdrawal of over 4000 km2 of Federal land in the Grand Canyon region from new uranium mining activities for 20 years was instituted in 2012, owing in part to a lack of scientific data on potential effects from uranium mining on water resources in the area. The U.S. Geological Survey has collected groundwater chemistry samples since 1981 in the Grand Canyon region to better understand the current state of groundwater quality, to monitor for changes in groundwater quality that may be the result of mining activities, and to identify "hot spots" with elevated metal concentrations and investigate the causes. This manuscript presents results for the assessment of uranium in groundwater in the Grand Canyon region. Analytical results for uranium in groundwater in the Grand Canyon region were available for 573 samples collected from 180 spring sites and 26 wells from September 1, 1981 to October 7, 2020. Samples were collected from springs issuing from stratigraphic units above, within, and below the Permian strata that host uranium ore in breccia pipes in the area. Maximum uranium concentrations at groundwater sites in the region ranged from less than 1 µg/L at 23 sites (11%) to 100 µg/L or more at 4 sites (2%). Of the 206 groundwater sites sampled, 195 sites (95%) had maximum observed uranium concentrations less than the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Maximum Contaminant Level of 30 µg/L for drinking water and 177 sites (86%) had uranium concentrations less than the 15 µg/L Canadian benchmark for protection of aquatic life in freshwater. The establishment of baseline groundwater quality is an important first step in monitoring for change in water chemistry throughout mining lifecycles and beyond to ensure the health of these critical groundwater resources.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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An assessment of uranium in groundwater in the Grand Canyon region

Tillman

Beisner

Anderson

et al. 2021

Sci Rep

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“…For example, the highest uranium concentration in water occurred at the beginning of spring in the former Mondego Sul uranium mine (Portugal) because the highest water flow caused leaching of uranium from secondary minerals to be released into the water [7]. The median uranium concentrations in drinking water sources showed a decreasing trend: streams (135.30 µg L −1 ) > dams (115.62 µg L −1 ) > boreholes (111.31 µg L −1 ) > shallow wells (110.03 µg L −1 ) in the vicinity of a uranium mine in the Siavonga district [8]. In northwestern Greece, minor pollution of the lakes in a lignite mining area was slightly more prevalent during warm periods; this was because of leaching effects following the area's snow melt and rainfall, as well as increased evaporation and industrialization activity, especially during the summer [9].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Determination of radionuclide concentration and radiological hazard in soil and water near the uranium tailings reservoir in China

Liu

Wei-bo

Gao

et al. 2021

Environmental Pollutants and Bioavailability

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Radioactive levels and radiological hazard assessment associated with exposure to radionuclides from uranium tailings were investigated in this study. Herein, the concentrations of 238 U, 226 Ra, 232 Th, and 40 K in 36 samples including 25 soil and 11 water samples were measured using a low background HPGe semiconductor detector. The radionuclide concentrations were much lower outside the tailings reservoir than inside the reservoir; however, both exceeded the national average and world average values. The mean concentrations of 238 U, 226 Ra, 232 Th, and 40 K in water samples were higher than the WHO guideline levels. The radionuclide transfer factors showed that the radionuclides in soil of the tailings enter the surrounding water. Additionally, the radiological hazard indices around the reservoir were much higher than the worldwide average. Results suggest that the high level of radiation in the tailings reservoir posed a potential threat to the health of the local residents.

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U(VI) biosorption by Azolla imbircata dry power from solution

Yang

Zhang

et al. 2021

J Radioanal Nucl Chem

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Preliminary Assessment of Uranium Contamination in Drinking Water Sources Near a Uranium Mine in the Siavonga District, Zambia, and Associated Health Risks

Cited by 43 publications

References 69 publications

An assessment of uranium in groundwater in the Grand Canyon region

An assessment of uranium in groundwater in the Grand Canyon region

Determination of radionuclide concentration and radiological hazard in soil and water near the uranium tailings reservoir in China

U(VI) biosorption by Azolla imbircata dry power from solution

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