Some naturally occurring radionuclides (NORM) in a river affected by acid mining drainages

G Manjón; J Mantero; I Vioque; J Galván; I Díaz-Francés; R García-Tenorio

doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.02.059

Some naturally occurring radionuclides (NORM) in a river affected by acid mining drainages

Chemosphere. 2019 May:223:536-543. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.02.059. Epub 2019 Feb 11.

Authors

G Manjón¹, J Mantero¹, I Vioque², J Galván¹, I Díaz-Francés¹, R García-Tenorio¹

Affiliations

¹ Applied Nuclear Physics Group, Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain.
² Applied Nuclear Physics Group, Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain. Electronic address: ivioque@us.es.

PMID: 30784760
DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.02.059

Abstract

The mining activities performed in the Iberian Pyrite Belt (south of Spain) have generated since long-time acid mining drainage (AMD) inputs to the Odiel River and its tributaries. These inputs are continuing nowadays, with origin mostly in the abandoned mines that cover the area, provoking a steady-state situation where the river waters present very low pH and very high concentrations of different heavy metals. In this work, the behavior of several natural radionuclides (²¹⁰Po, Th- and U-isotopes) in water and sediment samples collected in the Odiel River and its tributaries have been analyzed and their levels determined looking for assessing the radiological environmental impact of the AMD.

Keywords: Environmental impact; Metal mining; NORM material.

MeSH terms

Environmental Monitoring / methods*
Metals, Heavy / adverse effects*
Mining
Radioisotopes / adverse effects*
Rivers
Water Pollutants, Chemical / adverse effects*

Substances

Metals, Heavy
Radioisotopes
Water Pollutants, Chemical