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© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
D. K. Gupta, C. Walther (eds.), Uranium in Plants and the Environment,
Radionuclides and Heavy Metals in the Environment,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-14961-1_10
Assessment Modelling and the Evaluation
of Radiological and Chemical Impacts
of Uranium on Humans
and the Environment
M. C. Thorne
Abstract Models of varying degrees of complexity are used to simulate the transport of uranium through the environment. These models rely heavily on empirical
data on soil and sediment distribution coefficients and concentration ratios or transfer factors for biota. The empirical data relevant to modelling uranium transport in
both terrestrial and aquatic environments are reviewed, and consideration is given to
how either measured or calculated concentrations of uranium in environmental
media can be used to evaluate radiotoxic and chemotoxic impacts on human health
and the environment.
Keywords Mathematical model · Distribution coefficients · Concentration ratios ·
Transfer factors · Radiotoxicity · Chemotoxicity · Humans · Environment
1 Introduction
Uranium is present at low concentrations in all environmental media and can occur
at high concentrations in specific deposits (Payne and Airey 2006). Over the last
several decades, exploitation of those deposits has resulted in extensive contamination of the environment with uranium and its radioactive progeny. In consequence,
substantial programmes for the remediation of former uranium mining and milling
sites have been put in place. Both in the context of ongoing uranium exploration and
exploitation, and in determining preferred options for remediation of previously
exploited sites, there is a need to have available methodologies, mathematical models and data that can be used to assess the radiological and chemical impacts of
uranium on human health and the environment. In view of these considerations, the
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has initiated preparation of a series of
documents covering the environmental behaviour and impacts of radionuclides of
the uranium and thorium series. One of those documents (IAEA 2018) relates
M. C. Thorne (*)
Quarry Cottage, Hamsterley, Bishop Auckland, County Durham, UK
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
D. K. Gupta, C. Walther (eds.), Uranium in Plants and the Environment,
Radionuclides and Heavy Metals in the Environment,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-14961-1_10
Assessment Modelling and the Evaluation
of Radiological and Chemical Impacts
of Uranium on Humans
and the Environment
M. C. Thorne
Abstract Models of varying degrees of complexity are used to simulate the transport of uranium through the environment. These models rely heavily on empirical
data on soil and sediment distribution coefficients and concentration ratios or transfer factors for biota. The empirical data relevant to modelling uranium transport in
both terrestrial and aquatic environments are reviewed, and consideration is given to
how either measured or calculated concentrations of uranium in environmental
media can be used to evaluate radiotoxic and chemotoxic impacts on human health
and the environment.
Keywords Mathematical model · Distribution coefficients · Concentration ratios ·
Transfer factors · Radiotoxicity · Chemotoxicity · Humans · Environment
1 Introduction
Uranium is present at low concentrations in all environmental media and can occur
at high concentrations in specific deposits (Payne and Airey 2006). Over the last
several decades, exploitation of those deposits has resulted in extensive contamination of the environment with uranium and its radioactive progeny. In consequence,
substantial programmes for the remediation of former uranium mining and milling
sites have been put in place. Both in the context of ongoing uranium exploration and
exploitation, and in determining preferred options for remediation of previously
exploited sites, there is a need to have available methodologies, mathematical models and data that can be used to assess the radiological and chemical impacts of
uranium on human health and the environment. In view of these considerations, the
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has initiated preparation of a series of
documents covering the environmental behaviour and impacts of radionuclides of
the uranium and thorium series. One of those documents (IAEA 2018) relates
M. C. Thorne (*)
Quarry Cottage, Hamsterley, Bishop Auckland, County Durham, UK