Northwestern Polytechnical University, School of Ecology and Environment, Xi'an 710129, China; Northwestern Polytechnical University, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Qinling Ecological Intelligent Monitoring and Protection, Xi'an 710129, Shaanxi, China.
Northwestern Polytechnical University, School of Ecology and Environment, Xi'an 710129, China; Northwestern Polytechnical University, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Qinling Ecological Intelligent Monitoring and Protection, Xi'an 710129, Shaanxi, China.
J Hazard Mater. 2024 Nov 5;479:135616. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.135616. Epub 2024 Aug 22.
Depleted uranium (DU) from corroded armor penetrators can migrate through the soil vadose zone and cause environmental problems, yet studies on such migration at former theatres of war are scarce. Here, we investigated vertical DU migration in a soil profile due to a penetrator (3-8 cm beneath the soil surface) corroded over 7 years in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The highest concentration of DU was ∼45,300 mg/kg at 6-10 cm, with the concentration decreasing markedly with increasing depth. The majority of the DU accumulated within the top 20 cm and the DU front reached ∼42 cm beneath the penetrator. In addition, particles with varying U concentrations (3-65 wt%) were observed at 0-15 cm, with U primarily co-located with O, Si, Al, maghemite, and hematite. Particularly, metaschoepite was identified at 6-10 cm. Finally, X-ray absorption spectroscopy analysis found U was hexavalent in the soil profile. These findings suggest that the downward migration of DU was likely present as a soluble form adsorbed on clay minerals and Fe oxides. Overall, we show that the rate of DU migration within the vadose zone is comparatively slow, although if the penetrator is left in the soil for decades, it could pose a serious long-term risk. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS: Over 90 % of the depleted uranium (DU) penetrators fired in previous conflicts missed their armored targets and were left in the soil to corrode. The corroded penetrators can not only contaminate soil but also pose a risk to groundwater. The present study examined the migration of DU in a soil profile that included a DU penetrator that had been corroding for over 7 years. Studying the dynamics of DU migration is essential to develop effective remediation strategies to mitigate long-term environmental risks and safeguard ecosystems and human health from DU contamination.
贫铀 (DU) 从腐蚀的装甲穿透器中迁移可能会穿过土壤包气带并造成环境问题，但针对前战区这种迁移的研究却很少。在这里，我们研究了在波斯尼亚和黑塞哥维那的一个穿透器（土壤表面以下 3-8 厘米处）腐蚀超过 7 年后，土壤剖面中 DU 的垂直迁移。在 6-10 厘米处 DU 的浓度最高，约为 45300mg/kg，随着深度的增加浓度显著降低。大部分 DU 积聚在 20 厘米的表层内，穿透器下方的 DU 前沿达到 42 厘米。此外，在 0-15 厘米处观察到具有不同 U 浓度（3-65wt%）的颗粒，U 主要与 O、Si、Al、磁赤铁矿和赤铁矿共存。特别是在 6-10 厘米处发现了假水镁石。最后，X 射线吸收光谱分析发现土壤剖面中 U 呈六价态。这些发现表明，DU 向下迁移可能是以吸附在粘土矿物和 Fe 氧化物上的可溶性形式存在。总的来说，我们表明，DU 在包气带中的迁移速率相对较慢，尽管如果穿透器在土壤中放置几十年，它可能会带来严重的长期风险。环境影响：在以前的冲突中发射的超过 90%的贫铀 (DU) 穿透器未能击中其装甲目标，留在土壤中腐蚀。腐蚀的穿透器不仅会污染土壤，还会对地下水构成威胁。本研究检查了一个土壤剖面中 DU 的迁移情况，该剖面中包含一个已经腐蚀了超过 7 年的 DU 穿透器。研究 DU 迁移的动态对于制定有效的修复策略以减轻长期环境风险、保护生态系统和人类健康免受 DU 污染至关重要。
