title: Depleted Uranium Toxicity, Accumulation, and Uptake in Cynodon dactylon (Bermuda) and Aristida purpurea (Purple Threeawn).
abstract: Yuma Proving Grounds (YPG) in western Arizona is a testing range where Depleted uranium (DU) penetrators have been historically fired. A portion of the fired DU penetrators are being managed under controlled conditions by leaving them in place. The widespread use of DU in armor-penetrating weapons has raised environmental and human health concerns. The present study is focused on the onsite management approach and on the potential interactions with plants local to YPG. A 30 day study was conducted to assess the toxicity of DU corrosion products (e.g., schoepite and meta-schoepite) in two grass species that are native to YPG, Bermuda (Cynodon dactylon) and Purple Threeawn (Aristida purpurea). In addition, the ability for plants to uptake DU was studied. The results of this study show a much lower threshold for biomass toxicity and higher plant concentrations, particularly in the roots than shoots, compared to previous studies.
authors.affiliation: Environmental Laboratory, U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), 3909 Halls Ferry Road, Vicksburg, MS, USA. Afrachanna.D.Butler@usace.army.mil.
authors.forename: Afrachanna D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Butler
authors.affiliation: Environmental Laboratory, U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), 3909 Halls Ferry Road, Vicksburg, MS, USA.
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wynter
authors.affiliation: Environmental Laboratory, U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), 3909 Halls Ferry Road, Vicksburg, MS, USA.
authors.forename: Victor F
authors.initials: VF
authors.lastname: Medina
authors.affiliation: Environmental Laboratory, U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), 3909 Halls Ferry Road, Vicksburg, MS, USA.
authors.forename: Anthony J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Bednar
mesh_terms: D001130:Arizona; D018533:Biomass; D031744:Cynodon / Q000187:drug effects*; D010944:Plants / Q000187:drug effects*; D014501:Uranium / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D054041:Weapons
chemical_list: D014501:Uranium
keywords: Bioconcentration; Depleted uranium; Phyto-toxicity; Phyto-uptake; Translocation