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Comprehensive Evaluation of Soil Near Uranium Tailings, Beishan City, China

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Abstract

To evaluate the impact of uranium tailings on soil composition and soil microbial, six soil samples at different distance from the uranium tailings (Beishan City, China) were collected for further analysis. Concentrations of radionuclides (238U and 232Th), heavy metals (Mn, Cd, Cr, Ni, Zn, and Pb) and organochlorine pesticide were determined by ICP-MS and GC, they were significantly higher than those of the control. And the Average Well Color Development as well as the Shannon, the Evenness, and the Simpson index were calculated to evaluate the soil microbial diversity. The carbon utilization model of soil microbial community was also analyzed by Biolog-eco. All results indicated that uranium tailings leaded to excessive radionuclides and heavy metals, and decreased the diversity of the soil microbial community. Our study will provide a valuable basis for soil quality evaluation around uranium tailing repositories and lay a foundation for the management and recovery of uranium tailings.

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Acknowledgements

The authors were financially supported by the Postdoctoral Foundation No. 6zx716901, China Postdoctoral Science Foundation No. 17zd312701 and Heilongjiang Education Office Foundation No. 135209225.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Engineering Research Center of Biomass Materials, Ministry of Education, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang, 621010, Sichuan, China

    Yan Xun, Chen Chaoliang, Xuegang Luo & Yu Zhang

  2. Qiqihar University, No. 42, Wenhua Street, Qiqihar, 161000, Heilongjiang, China

    Yan Xun & Xinjia Zhang

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  1. Yan Xun
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  2. Xinjia Zhang
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  3. Chen Chaoliang
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  4. Xuegang Luo
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Correspondence to Yu Zhang.

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Xun, Y., Zhang, X., Chaoliang, C. et al. Comprehensive Evaluation of Soil Near Uranium Tailings, Beishan City, China. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 100, 843–848 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-018-2330-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-018-2330-8

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