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Writing in the August edition of Environmental Science and Technology Letters, Jason Nolan and Karrie A. Weber of the University of Nebraska report unsafe levels of uranium in groundwater from California's San Joaquin Valley and from the Ogallala Aquifer underlying Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Colorado, Kansas, Wyoming and South Dakota.
In Natural Uranium Contamination in Major U.S. Aquifers Linked to Nitrate they note a correlation between concentrations of uranium and nitrate ions in the groundwater samples they tested. They theorize that the nitrate, a major component of fertilizer, can oxidize uranium from U(IV) to U(VI), making it water-soluble. They found that in the San Joaquin Valley, uranium reached as much as 180 times the maximum contaminant level (MCL) set by the Environmental Protection Agency, and nitrate was as much as 34 times the MCL. Samples from the Ogallala Aquifer had as much as 89 times the MCL of uranium and 189 times the MCL of nitrate.
Water from these aquifers is used for drinking and for irrigation. Soluble uranium is bioaccumulated by certain food crops; uranium in the human body can result in cancer and kidney damage.
The Associated Press also reported on the story.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by frojack on Wednesday December 09 2015, @08:17PM
Who you gonna sue, God?
Quote TFA:
Uranium (U) contamination of groundwater has been primarily associated with anthropogenic activities such as mining, milling, nuclear testing, and disposal of spent nuclear fuel. However, groundwater U concentrations across the United States exceed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) MCL of 30 μg/L in many regions, including those without anthropogenic U activity, indicating a source of natural U contamination.
The results revealed widespread U and nitrate co-contamination of groundwater and implicate alkalinity and calcium as geochemical parameters that co-control U contamination.
All indications are that it is totally natural and has been going on since the Pleistocene.
Do you really think those horizon to horizon buffalo herds didn't poop?
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by Reziac on Thursday December 10 2015, @04:08AM
On that note:
1) Edwards AFB, primarily a research facility, was located in the Mojave Desert because even way back when, the ground there was considered too naturally-radioactive for long-term human occupancy. This factoid came up when some wit decided to sue 'em for contaminating the environment. No, God did it. Or the big bang did it, if you prefer. (Indeed, there are uranium mines in the area. There's also little to no groundwater, or it's very deep -- 250 to 1500 feet down, below several layers of solid rock.)
2) A while back I was researching bison vs cattle, and was surprised to learn that in the olden days, there were about 20 million more bison in North America than there are cattle today. Which given how much bigger bison are, equals 2-3 times the total biomass on the hoof, and therefore 2-3 times as much poop.
And there is no Alkibiades to come back and save us from ourselves.