Skip to main content
Log in

Radiological quality of wastewater released from a waste dam containing natural radionuclides

  • Published:
Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Radionuclides from uranium and thorium series were analyzed to evaluate the radiological quality of the released wastewater from a uranium mine under decommissioning process. The results based on Pearson's R2 analysis showed that the activity concentration of radionuclides in soluble and particulate fractions were statistically independent. The wastewater poses no radiological impacts to surrounding waters, generating maximum dose rates of 65 µSv·y−1. Cancer risk was analyzed, and the value found is below that suggested to undertake some actions. Among the radionuclides studied, 210Pb and 228Ra were the major contributors to both dose rate and cancer risk.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) (2002) Management of radioactive waste from the mining and milling of ores. Vienna

  2. IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) (2002a) Dispersion of radioactive material in air and water and consideration of population distribution in site evaluation for nuclear power plants. Vienna

  3. IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) (2005) Environmental and source monitoring for purposes of radiation protection safety guide. Vienna

  4. IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) (2013) Management of NORM residues. Vienna

  5. IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) (2014) Radiation protection and safety of radiation sources: international basic safety standards. Vienna

  6. IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) (2016) Criteria for radionuclide activity concentrations for food and drinking water. Vienna

  7. ICRP (International Commission on Radiological Protection) (1977) ICRP, recommendations of the international commission on radiological protection. Publicação ICRP 26. Ann. ICRP 1 (3). Pergamon Press, New York

  8. ICRP (International Commission on Radiological Protection) (1991) Recommendations of the international commission on radiological protection. ICRP Publication 60

  9. ICRP (International Commission on Radiological Protection) (2007) Recommendations of the international commission on radiological protection. SAGE publisher CRP. Ann. ICRP 37(2–4)

  10. CNEN (National Nuclear Energy Commission) (2014) Basic radiological protection guidelines. CNEN, Rio de Janeiro. (in Portuguese)

  11. Cipriani M (2002) Mitigation of social and environmental impacts due to definitive closure of uranium mines. Ph. D Thesis. UNICAMP (in Portuguese)

  12. Oliveira RLF, Pedrobom JH, Menegário AA, Domingos RN, Py Junior DA, Kiang CH (2013) Determination of in situ speciation of manganese in treated acid mine drainage water bud using multiple diffusive gradients in thin films devices. Anal Chim Acta 799:23–28. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aca.2013.09.022

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Oliveira, P. E., 2016. Quality Assessment of River Sediments in the Surroundings of the Caldas Uranium Mine. M.Sc. Masters Dissertation. UFOP. Ouro Preto. (in Portuguese)

  14. Pereira WS, Kelecom A, Pereira JR, Py Júnior DA (2013) Release of Uranium by an Ore Treatment Unit at Caldas, MG. Brazil J Environ Prot 4(6):570–574. https://doi.org/10.4236/jep.2013.46066

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Santos EA, Ladeira ACQ (2009) Leaching of uranium from the Osamu Utsumi mine wastes, INB Caldas, Minas Gerais. In: 2009 International nuclear atlantic conference - INAC 2009. ISBN: 978-85-99141-03-8

  16. Souza AM, Silveira CC, Pereira RM (2013) Contribution of metals from the waste piles of the osamu utsumi mine to drain the alkaline complex of Poços de Caldas City, Minas Gerais. Geochim. Bras. 27:63–76. https://doi.org/10.5327/Z0102-9800201300010006 (in Portuguese)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Galhardi JA, Mello JWV, Wilkinson KJ (2020) Bioaccumulation of potentially toxic elements from the soils surrounding a legacy uranium mine in Brazil. Chemosphere 261:127679. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.127679

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Silva LB (2020) Committed effective dose and estimated incidence of cancer due to ingestion of 40K, 226Ra, 228Ra and 228Th in grains of the Poços de Caldas City population diet. M.Sc. Masters Dissertation. COPPE/UFRJ. p 86. (in Portuguese)

  19. Silva LB, Lopes JM, Pereira WS, Garcêz RW, Silva AX, Talhofer JL (2021) Committed effective dose and lifetime cancer risk due to ingestion of natural radionuclides in grains grown in an area of high background radiation. Appl Radiat Isot 172:109656. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apradiso.2021.109656

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) (2018) Radiation protection of the public and the environment. Vienna

  21. IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) (2018a) Regulatory control of radioactive discharges to the environment. Vienna

  22. IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) (2018b) Prospective radiological environmental impact assessment for facilities and activities. Vienna

  23. Boniolo MR (2016) Removal of uranium in acid drainage from mines by biosorption techniques. Master Degree Dissertation. Paulist State University “Júlio de Mesquita Filho”, Institute of Geosciences and Exact Sciences, Rio Claro, p. 127 (in Portuguese)

  24. Pedrobom JH, Eismann CE, Menegário AA, Galhardi JA, Lukp KS, Dourado TA, Kiang CH (2017) In situ speciation of uranium in treated acid mine drainage using the diffusion gradients in thin films technique (DGT). Chemosphere 169:249–256. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2016.11.082

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Pereira WS, Kelecom A, Silva AX, Carmo AS, Py Júnior DA (2018) Assessment of uranium release to the environment from a disabled uranium mine in Brazil. J Environm Radioact 188:18–22. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2017.11.012

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Pereira WS, Kelecom A, Lopes JM, Do Carmo AS, Py Junior DA, Da Silva AX (2020) Evaluation of the radiological quality of water released by a uranium mining in Brazil. Environ Sci Pollut Res 27(29):36704–36717. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-09672-6

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. ICRP (International Commission on Radiological Protection) (2006) Assessing dose of the representative person for the purpose of the radiation protection of the public. ICRP Publication 101a. ISBN 0-7020-2927-0

  28. Ferrari CR, Nascimento HAF, Rodgher S, Almeida T, Bruschi AL, Nascimento MRL, Bonifácio RL (2017) Effects of the discharge of uranium mining effluents on the water quality of the reservoir: an integrative chemical and ecotoxicological assessment. Sci Rep 7(1):1–10. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-14100-w

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Rodgher S, Azevedo H, Ferrari CR, Roque CV, Ronqui LB, Campos MB, Nascimento MRL (2013) Evaluation of surface water quality in aquatic bodies under the influence of uranium mining (MG, Brazil). Environ Monit Assess 185:2395–2406. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-012-2719-5

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. CONAMA (National Environment Council) (1986) Rule no 1, January 23th 1986. Published in DOU, February 17th. Brasilia: DOU, (in Portuguese)

  31. CONAMA (National Environment Council) (2005) Rule 357 published in 17th Mar 2005, Changed by Brazil, Conama, Rule No. 430. (in Portuguese)

  32. CONAMA (National Environment Council) (2011) Resolution No 430 Published in DOU no 92, de 16/05/2011, pg 89, Changed by Rule Brasil, Conama, No. 393. (in Portuguese)

  33. Brasil MS (Ministry of Health) (2017) Portaria Consolidação nº 5. PUBLICADO NO DOU EM: 03/10/2017 | EDIÇÃO: SUPLEMENTO 190 | SEÇÃO: 1 | PÁGINA: 360. Brasília: Brasil. Ministério da Saúde, Governo Federal. Brasilia: DOU. (in Portuguese)

  34. NCR (Nuclear Regulatory Commission). 2000. Radionuclides Rule. Wasington.

  35. USEPA (United State Environmental Protection Agency) (1997) Exposure Factors Handbook, vol. 1, 2, and 3. Washington DC

  36. USEPA (United State Environmental Protection Agency) (1999) Cancer risk coefficients for environmental exposure to radionuclides. Whashigton DC

  37. USEPA (United State Environmental Protection Agency) (2015) Drinking water requirements for states and publicwater systems: radionuclides rule. Washington DC

  38. EURATOM (European Atomic Energy Community) (2013) No. 2013/51 laying down requirements for the protection of the health of the general public with regard to radioactive substances in water intended for human consumption (2013). Geneve: EURATOM

  39. WHO (World Health Organization) (2006) Guidelines for drinking-water quality: incorporating first addendum. Geneva

  40. WHO (World Health Organization) (2011) Guidelines for drinking-water quality, fourth ed. Geneva

  41. WHO (World Health Organization) (2017) Guidelines for drinking-water quality: fourth edition incorporating the first addendum. Genève

  42. WHO (World Health Organization) (2018) Guidelines of radioactivity in drinking-water. Genève

  43. CNEN (National Nuclear Energy Commission) (1991) Oficio CNEN – SNU nº 901/91 de 22/07/1991. Rio de Janeiro. (in Portuguese)

  44. CNEN (National Nuclear Energy Commission) (1997) Limites Derivados para os Pontos de Lançamento de Efluentes Líquidos do Complexo Industrial de Poços de Caldas da Unidade de Tratamento de Minérios das Indústrias Nucleares do Brasil (UTMINB). Rio de J. RJ: CNEN. (in Portuguese)

  45. Savvin SB (1961) Analytical use of arsenazo III: determination of thorium, zirconium, uranium and rare earth elements. Talante 8:673–685. https://doi.org/10.1016/0039-9140(61)80164-1

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Savvin SB (1964) Analytical applications of arsenazo III—II: determination of thorium, uranium, protactinium, neptunium, hafnium and scandium. Talanta 11:1–6. https://doi.org/10.1016/0039-9140(64)80003-5

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. Godoy JM, Lauria DC, Godoy ML, Cunha R (1994) Development of a sequential method for determination of 238U, 234U, 232Th, 230Th, 228Th, 228Ra, 226Ra and 210Pb in environmental samples. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 182:165–169. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02047980

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  48. Rosner B (2016) Fundamentals of biostatistics, 8th edition. United Kingdom.

  49. Ferreira DF (2018) Multivariate statistics, Ed. UFLA. 3º ed. ISBN: 978-85-8127-063-0, pp. 624 (in Portuguese)

  50. CNEN (National Nuclear Energy Commission) (2011) Posição Regulatória PR 3.01/011:2011 Coeficientes de Dose para Exposição do Público. Rio de Janeiro: CNEN. (in Portuguese)

  51. ICRP (International Commission on Radiological Protection) (1992). Age-dependent doses to members of the public from intake of radionuclides—Part 2 ingestion dose coefficients, Publication 67.

  52. IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) (1996) International basic safety standards for protection against ionizing radiation and for the safety of radiation sources, IAEA safety standards series Nº 115. Vienna

  53. Macacini JF (2008) Development of a method for quantifying the exhalation rate of 222Rn in a radioactive waste dam and study of soil as a mitigating material. Doctoral Thesis, Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba. (in Portuguese)

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Contributions

Individual contributions to the paper using the relevant CRediT (Contributor Roles Taxonomy) roles. WSP Data curation, Formal analysis, Investigation, Methodology, Visualization, Writing—original draft, Supervision, Writing—review & editing. AK Formal analysis, Supervision, Writing—review & editing. JML Conceptualization, Formal analysis, Methodology, Writing—original draft, Writing—review & editing. ASC Methodology, Supervision, Writing—review & editing. CBE Conceptualization, Formal analysis, Methodology, Writing—original draft, Writing—review & editing. ELCC Conceptualization, Formal analysis, Methodology, Writing—original draft, Writing—review & editing. FL Data curation, Formal analysis, Visualization, Writing—review & editing. AXS Project administration, Supervision, Funding acquisition.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to José M. Lopes.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Pereira, W.S., Kelecom, A., Lopes, J.M. et al. Radiological quality of wastewater released from a waste dam containing natural radionuclides. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 332, 2419–2433 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-021-07973-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-021-07973-9

Keywords

Navigation