Weathering and evaporation controls on dissolved uranium concentrations in groundwater – A case study from northern Burundi

Post, Vincent; Vassolo, Sara; Tiberghien, C.; Baranyikwa, D.; Miburo, D.

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.07.006

Cited by 36 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…It is worthy to mention that the hydrogeochemical approach is essential to delineate the origin of U mineralization. Besides this, the role of hydrogeochemistry and geology have already been explored in the arid regions related to the evapotranspiration process in the tropical areas of Langer Heinrich (Southern Hemisphere), Klein Trekkopje (Namibia), Yeelirrie (Western Australia), Lake Maitland (southern Argentina) and Latin America 15 – 19 . The seasonal variations and the process of Uranium mobilisations in hard rock aquifers along with their health hazard indices in the south Indian aquifer indicated the redox reaction as a major governing factor 20 , 21 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tracing geochemical sources and health risk assessment of uranium in groundwater of arid zone of India

Pandit

Saini

Chidhambaram

et al. 2022

Sci Rep

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Water quality degradation and metal contamination in groundwater are serious concerns in an arid region with scanty water resources. This study aimed at evaluating the source of uranium (U) and potential health risk assessment in groundwater of the arid region of western Rajasthan and northern Gujarat. The probable source of vanadium (V) and fluorine (F) was also identified. U and trace metal concentration, along with physicochemical characteristics were determined for 265 groundwater samples collected from groundwater of duricrusts and palaeochannels of western Rajasthan and northern Gujarat. The U concentration ranged between 0.6 and 260 μg L−1 with a mean value of 24 μg L−1, and 30% of samples surpassed the World Health Organization’s limit for U (30 μg L−1). Speciation results suggested that dissolution of primary U mineral, carnotite [K2(UO2)2(VO4)2·3H2O] governs the enrichment. Water–rock interaction and evaporation are found the major hydrogeochemical processes controlling U mineralization. Groundwater zones having high U concentrations are characterized by Na–Cl hydrogeochemical facies and high total dissolved solids. It is inferred from geochemical modelling and principal component analysis that silicate weathering, bicarbonate complexation, carnotite dissolution, and ion exchange are principal factors controlling major solute ion chemistry. The annual ingestion doses of U for all the age groups are found to be safe and below the permissible limit in all samples. The health risk assessment with trace elements manifested high carcinogenic risks for children.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tracing geochemical sources and health risk assessment of uranium in groundwater of arid zone of India

Pandit

Saini

Chidhambaram

et al. 2022

Sci Rep

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“…This is likely due to the complexity of U geochemistry, where it exists in different oxidation states and can precipitate as many different secondary minerals, typically being hydrous vanadates or phosphates of sodium, magnesium, potassium or calcium. The presence or absence of these elements, in particular the relatively rare vanadium or phosphorus, control the mobility of U and its migration through the landscape, including the groundwater (Post et al, 2017).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Uranium in water has a metal toxicity threat as well as a radiological risk (Banning et al, 2013). It occurs in elevated and potentially dangerous concentrations in groundwater in various parts of the world, such as India (Duggal et al, 2017) and Burundi (Post et al, 2017). Namakwaland is known to have surficial uranium deposits (Cole, 1998) and high levels of radioactivity have been reported in the groundwater (Abiye & Leshomo, 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hydrochemical evolution of high uranium, fluoride and nitrate groundwaters of Namakwaland, South Africa

Makubalo

Diamond

2020

Journal of African Earth Sciences

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“…Uranium is a potentially hazardous contaminant in groundwater that is commonly derived from geogenic sources. − Elevated exposure to U causes tissue damage in humans and aquatic organisms. − In Canada, water-quality guidelines are 15 μg/L U for the protection of aquatic life (chronic exposure) and 20 μg/L U for drinking water. , Groundwater unaffected by anthropogenic activity frequently exceeds these concentrations, especially in aquifers hosted in granitic rocks (or their metamorphosed derivatives) which tend to be enriched in U through magmatic differentiation. ,,,,,− …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Persistence of Uranium in Old and Cold Subpermafrost Groundwater Indicated by Linking ²³⁴U-²³⁵U-²³⁸U, Groundwater Ages, and Hydrogeochemistry

Skierszkan

Dockrey²,

Helsen³

et al. 2021

ACS Earth Space Chem.

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Uranium (U) contamination in groundwater from geogenic sources affects water quality globally. Here, we use a multifaceted isotopic and geochemical approach to elucidate U sources and controls on geogenic U release to groundwater and surface water at a prospective subarctic gold deposit in Yukon, Canada, that is characterized by permafrost, fractured bedrock, and cold (<2 °C) groundwater. X-ray absorption spectroscopy, sequential extractions, and micro X-ray fluorescence mapping show extensive subsurface oxidation and solid-phase U present in its hexavalent and mobile form. Limited 238U/235U isotope fractionation and predominance of U(VI) in rocks suggest U(VI) sorption–desorption is the main driver of U mobilization. Groundwater U concentrations are appreciable (median 38 μg/L, range 1.2–535 μg/L) and are explained by high-alkalinity, Ca-rich groundwater produced from oxidative weathering of sulfide and carbonate-mineralized structures around the deposit. Minor 238U/235U isotope fractionation in groundwater indicates that limited U(VI) reduction occurs beneath permafrost despite groundwater redox conditions below Fe(III) and S(VI) reduction, and groundwater ages inferred from 3H and 14C to be on the order of thousands of years. The complexation of U as uranyl–calcium–carbonate complexes and the resilience of these complexes to U(VI) reduction contributes to high U(VI) mobility under cold groundwater conditions. This study provides insight into processes and time scales of U transport in subarctic groundwater at a pivotal time when hydrogeochemical changes may be anticipated in cold regions worldwide due to permafrost degradation.

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Weathering and evaporation controls on dissolved uranium concentrations in groundwater – A case study from northern Burundi

Cited by 36 publications

References 35 publications

Tracing geochemical sources and health risk assessment of uranium in groundwater of arid zone of India

Tracing geochemical sources and health risk assessment of uranium in groundwater of arid zone of India

Hydrochemical evolution of high uranium, fluoride and nitrate groundwaters of Namakwaland, South Africa

Persistence of Uranium in Old and Cold Subpermafrost Groundwater Indicated by Linking ²³⁴U-²³⁵U-²³⁸U, Groundwater Ages, and Hydrogeochemistry

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Weathering and evaporation controls on dissolved uranium concentrations in groundwater – A case study from northern Burundi

Cited by 36 publications

References 35 publications

Tracing geochemical sources and health risk assessment of uranium in groundwater of arid zone of India

Tracing geochemical sources and health risk assessment of uranium in groundwater of arid zone of India

Hydrochemical evolution of high uranium, fluoride and nitrate groundwaters of Namakwaland, South Africa

Persistence of Uranium in Old and Cold Subpermafrost Groundwater Indicated by Linking 234U-235U-238U, Groundwater Ages, and Hydrogeochemistry

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Persistence of Uranium in Old and Cold Subpermafrost Groundwater Indicated by Linking ²³⁴U-²³⁵U-²³⁸U, Groundwater Ages, and Hydrogeochemistry