Uranium is one of the three main harmful natural pollutants in groundwater, along with arsenic and chromium.
The study focuses onthe chemical effects of groundwater recharge, that is, the process of rainfall infiltrating soils and moving downward into underlying aquifers. As rainwater filters down, its chemical composition changes as it interacts with the earth's environment. Pumping water also affects the dynamics of the aquifer. This can change the chemistry of the soil and sediment. And also how uranium is distributed between solid particles (sediments) and water.
In their study, scientists found that,If water accumulates more calcium during its journey and also becomes more alkaline, it can attract uranium and contaminate aquifers.
However, according to researchers, factorsaffecting the process of uranium release from sediments into groundwater arise within 1.8 m of the upper soil layer. The hazardous area can simply be bypassed when building and laying aquifers.
The new methodology gives water managers an easy way to understand and predict what will affect uranium concentrations in groundwater at scale.
Scientists emphasize that the study also solves the problem with uranium before its concentrations harm people, and the reconstruction of houses and entire settlements will become too costly.
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