Abstract
Algae including cyanobacteria function as efficient temporary sinks in wetlands below uranium mining tailings and dumps. As far as investigated their accumulation potential exceeds in parts higher plants and soils, microphytic and epiphytic algae each being superior to macrophytic algae and vascular plants. The enrichment compared to the surrounding water is high. In the living biomass uranium can be accumulated up to 300 mg/kg dry matter (DM), lead up to 250 mg/kg DM and arsenic even up to 4000 mg/kg DM. On average approx. half of the contamination is loosely adsorbed on the cell surfaces. The dimension of contaminant remobilization is yet unknown.
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Dienemann, C., Dudel, G.E., Dienemann, H., Stolz, L. (2002). Retention of Radionuclides and Arsenic by Algae Downstream of U mining Tailings. In: Merkel, B.J., Planer-Friedrich, B., Wolkersdorfer, C. (eds) Uranium in the Aquatic Environment. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-55668-5_71
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-55668-5_71
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