Irrigation uranium

Near Mo mine and mill, Colorado, irrigated with Mo-contaminated effluent from uranium mill 61 (49-72) 4... 

High concentrations of selenium may occur in groundwater in semiarid or arid areas, near known mineral deposits containing sulfide minerals of uranium and vanadium. Irrigated agriculture may substantially increase concentrations in groundwater in areas with high selenium levels in soil. 

It is not surprising that plants that were grown on contaminated soil (soil B) and irrigated with contaminated water (CW) showed the highest uranium content however, the ratio of 100 compared with the tubers grown in normal soil and irrigated... 

Uranium Content ( ig kg ) in Pbtato Tubers (Unpeeled and Peeled) and Aerial Parts Grown in Three Types of Soil (A, B, and C) and Irrigated with Noncontaminated Water (NCW), Contaminated Water (CW), and Tap Water (TP)... 

Highlight. The transfer factors of uranium from the soil to the plant show a strong dependence on the type of soil, uranium content in the soil, the type of plant and irrigation (for a comprehensive list, see Environment 2007). In addition, as mentioned earlier, the distribution of uranium within the plant parts has a tendency to concentrate in the roots, and in the peels of tubers but not inside the peeled potatoes. 

Neves, O. and Abreu, M.M. (2009). Are uranium-contaminated soil and irrigation water a risk for human vegetable consumers A study case with Solanum tuberosum, Phaseolus vulgaris L. and Lactuca sativa L., Ecotoxicology 18, 1130-1136. 

This paper describes radiological data for the transfer of natural uranium, the predominant radioelement in the water of irrigation, into vegetation grown during the season prior to consumption. 

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