Some naturally occurring radionuclides (NORM) in a river affected by acid mining drainages

摘要

The mining activities performed in the Iberian Pyrite Belt (south of Spain) have generated since long-time acid mining drainage (AMD) inputs to the Odiel River and its tributaries. These inputs are continuing nowadays, with origin mostly in the abandoned mines that cover the area, provoking a steady-state situation where the river waters present very low pH and very high concentrations of different heavy metals.In this work, the behavior of several natural radionuclides (Po-210, Th- and U-isotopes) in water and sediment samples collected in the Odiel River and its tributaries have been analyzed and their levels determined looking for assessing the radiological environmental impact of the AMD. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.