title: Uranium behaviour in an estuary polluted by mining and industrial effluents: the Ría of Huelva (SW of Spain).
abstract: This paper describes a comprehensive study of the behaviour of U in the Ría of Huelva estuary, formed by the Tinto and Odiel rivers. This ecosystem is conditioned by two hydrochemical facts: one connected with the acid mining drainage (AMD) generated in the first section of the river basins, and another one related to the fertilizer industry located at the estuary. AMD gives a singular character to these rivers; low pH and high redox potential that keep high amounts of toxic elements and radionuclides in dissolution. Most of the data for dissolved U in estuaries indicate conservative mixing, but there are examples of non-conservative behaviour attributed to oxidation/reduction processes or solubility variations. In the Ría of Huelva estuary the U shows a non-conservative behaviour due to solubility changes produced by variations in the pH. A complete removal of riverine dissolved U is observed in a pH range of 4-6. At higher pH values, U release from suspended matter, and probably also from sediments into the dissolved phase is found.
authors: Department of Applied Physics, Facultad de Ciencias Experimentales, University of Huelva, Campus de El Carmen, 21071 Huelva, Spain.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Hierro
authors: J E
authors: JE
authors: Martín
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Olías
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Vaca
authors: J P
authors: JP
authors: Bolivar
mesh_terms: D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D063366:Estuaries; D007220:Industrial Waste / Q000032:analysis*; D008906:Mining; D013030:Spain; D014501:Uranium / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D007220:Industrial Waste; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D014501:Uranium
keywords: (234)U/(238)U activity ratio; Adsorption–desorption; Non-conservative uranium; Partition coefficient; Seasonal behaviour; Tinto–Odiel estuary; Water mixing