Uranium in Ohio, USA Surface Waters: Implications for a Fertilizer Source in Waters Draining Agricultural lands

W Berry Lyons,Susan A Welch,Christopher B Gardner,Samantha Israel

doi:10.1038/s41598-020-61922-2

W Berry Lyons, Susan A Welch + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-61922-2

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Journal: Scientific Reports	Publication Date: Mar 20, 2020
Citations: 13	License type: open-access

Affiliation: The Ohio State University

Abstract

Synthetic fertilizer is a potential source of uranium to natural waters, yet evidence is lacking. We analyzed dissolved uranium concentrations in lakes, reservoirs, and rivers in Ohio, USA during the summer of 2017. All water bodies drain areas of extensive agriculture where phosphate-rich fertilizer is applied. Uranium concentrations ranged from 0.3 to 3.9 µg L−1, with the lowest concentrations observed in the most offshore Lake Erie samples. These results, especially when placed in the context of previous work on both surface and groundwater, suggest that dissolved uranium concentrations in this water emanating from agricultural lands are higher than background, and uranium should be categorized similarly to nitrate and phosphate in that it originates in part from fertilizer application.

Highlights

Another impact of the addition of P-rich fertilizer on agricultural lands is the introduction of various trace elements associated with the original phosphoritic materials that are subsequently transferred to final commercial products during processing
We present dissolved U concentrations from surface waters in central and northwestern Ohio, USA, that drain agricultural landscapes during a late spring–summer temporal cycle
Dissolved U concentrations range from 0.3 to 3.9 μg L−1, with the lowest values measured in offshore samples from Lake Erie, and the highest values in O’Shaughnessy and Griggs Reservoirs and the Maumee River (Table 1)

Summary

Introduction

Another impact of the addition of P-rich fertilizer on agricultural lands is the introduction of various trace elements associated with the original phosphoritic materials that are subsequently transferred to final commercial products during processing. We present dissolved U concentrations from surface waters in central and northwestern Ohio, USA, that drain agricultural landscapes during a late spring–summer temporal cycle. Www.nature.com/scientificreports promoted by excess nutrient input, and three reservoirs that provide potable water to Columbus, Ohio, which drain primarily agricultural lands (Fig. 1).

Results

Conclusion