Toxicity assessment of the water used for human consumption from the Cameron/Tuba City abandoned uranium mining area prior/after the combined electrochemical treatment/advanced oxidation

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2015 Jan;22(1):516-26. doi: 10.1007/s11356-014-3376-8. Epub 2014 Aug 5.

Abstract

The purpose of this work was detailed physicochemical, radiological, and toxicological characterization of the composite sample of water intended for human consumption in the Cameron/Tuba City abandoned uranium mining area before and after a combined electrochemical/advanced oxidation treatment. Toxicological characterization was conducted on human lymphocytes using a battery of bioassays. On the bases of the tested parameters, it could be concluded that water used for drinking from the tested water sources must be strictly forbidden for human and/or animal consumption since it is extremely cytogenotoxic, with high oxidative stress potential. A combined electrochemical treatment and posttreatment with ozone and UV light decreased the level of all physicochemical and radiological parameters below the regulated values. Consequently, the purified sample was neither cytotoxic nor genotoxic, indicating that the presented method could be used for the improvement of water quality from the sites highly contaminated with the mixture of heavy metals and radionuclides.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Comet Assay
  • Electrochemical Techniques*
  • Humans
  • Lipid Peroxidation
  • Metals, Heavy / analysis
  • Mining
  • Ozone
  • Radioisotopes / analysis
  • Risk Assessment
  • Toxicity Tests
  • Ultraviolet Rays
  • Uranium / analysis
  • Uranium / radiation effects
  • Uranium / toxicity*
  • Water
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / analysis
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / radiation effects
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / toxicity*
  • Water Pollutants, Radioactive / analysis
  • Water Pollutants, Radioactive / radiation effects
  • Water Pollutants, Radioactive / toxicity*
  • Water Purification / methods*
  • Water Quality

Substances

  • Metals, Heavy
  • Radioisotopes
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical
  • Water Pollutants, Radioactive
  • Water
  • Uranium
  • Ozone