Environmental Chemistry Letters ( IF 15.7 ) Pub Date : 2021-02-23 , DOI: 10.1007/s10311-021-01205-y Zhongze Peng , Jianjin Cao
Environmental nanomaterials occur ubiquitously in the environment as the result of both natural and anthropic activities, yet knowledge on natural nanoparticles is still scarce, in particular for uranium which is of interest for energy production, radioactive pollution and military use. Here, we searched for U nanomaterials in surface media such as soils, groundwater, ascending gas and plants from five areas in three Chinese provinces. Morphology, chemical constituents and crystal structure of nanoparticles were assessed by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. Results show that natural U-bearing nanoparticles occur in many surface media with diverse morphologies and sizes down to 10 nm. Major nanoparticle components include Pb, U, Fe, and O. We discuss sources, migration and toxicity of U nanoparticles as well as their potential threats to human health.