Toxic elements in an uranium-bearing aquifer and their possible impact on groundwater quality (Koprubasi/Turkey)

ŞİMŞEK C.

FRESENIUS ENVIRONMENTAL BULLETIN, cilt.17, ss.819-828, 2008 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 17
  • Basım Tarihi: 2008
  • Dergi Adı: FRESENIUS ENVIRONMENTAL BULLETIN
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.819-828
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: arsenic, groundwater quality, Koprubasi, toxic metals, uranium
  • Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

One of Turkey's largest uranium sites is Koprubasi, which is located within the province of Manisa, near the city of Izmir in the Aegean region. The uranium ores in the Koprubasi basin originate from Neogene-aged altered sandstone and conglomerate layers. In addition, the uranium bearing sandstone and conglomerate is the main groundwater aquifer system used for various human purposes in the region. The main objective of this study was to determine the impact of uranium mineralization on groundwater quality in uranium-bearing sediments and rocks, which contain sulphide minerals, and are sources of arsenic and some trace metal contamination in the groundwater within the study area. The groundwater is enriched in Al, As, B, Fe, Mn, and U, exceeding Turkish Drinking Water Standards. In particular, the groundwater influenced by the uranium mining site exhibits high levels of As and U. Arsenic and uranium contamination of groundwater is directly related to the distribution of uranium ores in aquifer rocks and uranium mines, and these toxic elements have reached levels that could directly impact human health.