Assessing potential risks from exposure to natural uranium in well water.
Over 50% of the wells in the Nambe region of northern New Mexico exceed the US Environmental Protection Agency's recommended drinking water standard of 20 microg l(-1) for 238U; the highest in the area was measured at 1,200 microg U l(-1). Uranium uptake was estimated in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum), squash (Cucurbita pepo), lettuce (Lactuca scarriola), and radish (Raphanus sativus) irrigated with Nambe well water containing <1, 150, 500, and 1,200 microg U l(-1). Plant uptake and human dose and toxicity associated with ingestion of water and produce and inhalation of irrigated soil related to gardening activities were evaluated. Uranium concentration in plants increased linearly with increasing U concentration in irrigation water, particularly in lettuce and radish. The estimated total committed effective dose for 70 years of maximum continuous exposure, via the three pathways to well water containing 1,200 microg U l(-1), was 0.17 mSv with a corresponding kidney concentration of 0.8 microg U g(-1) kidney.
Hakonson-Hayes
A C
AC
Environment, Safety, and Health Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, NM 87545, USA.
Fresquez
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PR
Whicker
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FW
D000383:Agriculture; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005506:Food Contamination; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure; D007668:Kidney / Q000737:chemistry; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D011634:Public Health; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013997:Time Factors; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014501:Uranium / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014675:Vegetables / Q000737:chemistry*; D014881:Water Supply
D014501:Uranium