Identification and effects of anthropogenic emissions of U and Th on the composition of sediments in a river/estuarine system in Southern Spain

Abstract

A study of the distribution of natural radionuclides in different fractions of river bottom sediments has been carried out. The study has shown that the majority of the total U in the sediment is located in the non-residual fraction of the sediment, while Th is more suitable to be present in the residual fraction of the sediments. Also, it has been found that coprecipitation with amorphous ferromanganese oxyhydroxides is the main process of incorporation of U- and Th-isotopes from the water column to suspended matter or bottom sediments. The distribution of the radionuclides and the analysis of some relevant activity ratios in different fractions of sediments has made an unequivocal connection between the enhanced U content in river sediments and the waste discharged into the Odiel and Tinto rivers by the operation in the vicinity of phosphate fertilizer industries.