Natural Remediation of Surface Water Systems Contaminated with Nuclear Waste via Humic Substances in South Ural

Radiological waste disposal and accidents from radionuclide production over several decades have resulted in widespread radioactive contamination of surface water systems in South Ural. Natural attenuation of radioactive contamination of freshwater can be considered as an alternative to manage radio...

Full description

Saved in:

Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Water, air, and soil pollution air, and soil pollution, 2010-02, Vol.206 (1-4), p.203-214
Main Authors:	Aleksandrova, Olga N, Schulz, Marcus, Matthies, Michael
Format:	Article
Language:	eng
Subjects:	Acids Applied sciences Aquatic resources Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution Benthos Binding Bioavailability Biological Climate Change/Climate Change Impacts Contamination Continental surface waters Earth and Environmental Science Earth sciences Earth, ocean, space Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics Environment Environmental cleanup Environmental impact Exact sciences and technology Fish freshwater fish Freshwaters hazardous waste Hostages Humic acid Humic acids Hydrogeology Investigations Natural water pollution Pollution Pollution, environment geology Radioactive wastes radionuclides Refuse and refuse disposal Remediation Rivers Sediments Soil Science & Conservation Statistical analysis Surface water Waste management water pollution Water Quality/Water Pollution Water treatment and pollution Water utilities
Online Access:	Get full text
Tags:	Add Tag No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!

Description
Summary:	Radiological waste disposal and accidents from radionuclide production over several decades have resulted in widespread radioactive contamination of surface water systems in South Ural. Natural attenuation of radioactive contamination of freshwater can be considered as an alternative to manage radioactive materials released into the environment. A management alternative takes advantage of natural remediation processes, especially the binding of radionuclides and their compounds to water body solids via humic substances. The formation of radionuclide complexes with humic acids removes and converts radionuclides to a less hazardous form and is followed by a decrease in radionuclide bioavailability to freshwater biota, especially fish and benthos. Here, we present an investigation and quantification of natural remediation of highly contaminated surface water systems located in South Ural via humic substances. Based on a large set of experimental data, we state that in the surface water systems, humic acids promote the immobilization of radionuclides and thus decrease their bioavailability for fish in the investigated water bodies. We examine the influence of humic substance on the chemical and biological interactions between radionuclides and the environment that has experienced increasing interest concerning the remedial uses of humic materials.
ISSN:	0049-6979 1573-2932