Carcinogenesis, Teratogenesis & Mutagenesis ›› 2025, Vol. 37 ›› Issue (6): 432-437.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-616x.2025.06.002

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Analysis of uranium and thorium levels in the environment around a uranium mine

LI Yaru, HE Yingxue, FAN Li, LIANG Chenqing, YAN Dong   

  1. Department of Radioecology, National Institute of Radiological Protection, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 100088, China
  • Received:2025-08-07 Revised:2025-10-28 Published:2025-12-06

Abstract: OBJECTIVE:To investigate contents and enrichment characteristics of key radioactive nuclides (uranium and thorium) in soil,wild plants,vegetables and water in a typical radiation sensitive area,as well as to explore their correlations. METHODS:Samples were collected from the surrounding area of a uranium mine in China. Concentrations of uranium and thorium in 47 samples of soil,plants,vegetables and water were detected by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The contents,concentration ratio (CR) and correlations of uranium and thorium in soil,plants,vegetables and water at different sampling sites were analyzed. RESULTS:The contents of uranium and thorium in soil samples from 15 sampling sites were within the range of background values in the region. Their contents in vegetables and drinking water sources were within the limit values,and in foods were at a safe level. The CR values of moss in uranium and thorium were 0.966 and 1.228,respectively,which showed more prominent enrichment ability than other plants. There were significant correlations between uranium and thorium contents in plants/vegetables (P<0.01). CONCLUSION:This survey showed that the contents of uranium and thorium in the surrounding environment (soil,plants,vegetables,water) of the uranium mine were within the range of background values or food limits,and no pollution phenomenon was found. And moss with strong enrichment ability in this region was screened out,which could be used as a candidate plant for remediation of soil uranium pollution or indicator organism.

Key words: uranium mining, soil, plant, water, concentration ratio, correlation analysis

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