Uranium Trappers, a Partial Order
Study
Nancy Y. Quintero
1 Introduction
Water, soils and subsurface contamination by radionuclides as uranium (U) is a
worldwide problem (McCullough et al. 2003); over a long period, U accumulation
has led to health risks on humans and to deleterious effects on ecosystems (Prakash
et al. 2013). From the chemical point of view, U as well as other actinides, have a
pronounced tendency to form complexes with other elements (Markich 2002). For
example, one of their important features is that in acidic waters, U (VI) dissolves
and forms soluble complexes, facilitating its spread in ground waters (Markich
2002). Although U is a primordial element found in the earth crust (El-Taher et al.
2004), its long half-life, radioactive decay of their daughters and their toxicity,
even at low concentrations, have increased its potential as ecological and public
health hazards (Committee on Uranium Mining in Virginia; Committee on Earth
Resources; National Research Council. Uranium Mining in Virginia: Scientific,
Technical, Environmental, Human Health and Safety, and Regulatory Aspects of
Uranium Mining and Processing in Virginia. Washington (DC): National Academies
Press (US) 2011). Due to these reasons, the final disposal of nuclear wastes has been
a matter of concern to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), scientists
and energy companies worldwide.
N. Y. Quintero ()
Secretaría de Educación Municipal, Colegio Santos Apóstoles, Cúcuta, Colombia
CHIMA, Mathematical Chemistry Group, Universidad de Pamplona, Pamplona, Colombia
Corporación Colombiana del Saber Científico (Bogotá), SCIO, Bogotá, Colombia
e-mail: yaneth.quintero@udea.edu.co
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
R. Bruggemann et al. (eds.), Measuring and Understanding Complex Phenomena,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-59683-5_13
181
Study
Nancy Y. Quintero
1 Introduction
Water, soils and subsurface contamination by radionuclides as uranium (U) is a
worldwide problem (McCullough et al. 2003); over a long period, U accumulation
has led to health risks on humans and to deleterious effects on ecosystems (Prakash
et al. 2013). From the chemical point of view, U as well as other actinides, have a
pronounced tendency to form complexes with other elements (Markich 2002). For
example, one of their important features is that in acidic waters, U (VI) dissolves
and forms soluble complexes, facilitating its spread in ground waters (Markich
2002). Although U is a primordial element found in the earth crust (El-Taher et al.
2004), its long half-life, radioactive decay of their daughters and their toxicity,
even at low concentrations, have increased its potential as ecological and public
health hazards (Committee on Uranium Mining in Virginia; Committee on Earth
Resources; National Research Council. Uranium Mining in Virginia: Scientific,
Technical, Environmental, Human Health and Safety, and Regulatory Aspects of
Uranium Mining and Processing in Virginia. Washington (DC): National Academies
Press (US) 2011). Due to these reasons, the final disposal of nuclear wastes has been
a matter of concern to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), scientists
and energy companies worldwide.
N. Y. Quintero ()
Secretaría de Educación Municipal, Colegio Santos Apóstoles, Cúcuta, Colombia
CHIMA, Mathematical Chemistry Group, Universidad de Pamplona, Pamplona, Colombia
Corporación Colombiana del Saber Científico (Bogotá), SCIO, Bogotá, Colombia
e-mail: yaneth.quintero@udea.edu.co
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
R. Bruggemann et al. (eds.), Measuring and Understanding Complex Phenomena,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-59683-5_13
181