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Kang M, Kang Y, Wu H, Qin D, Dai C, Wang J. The redox reactions of U(VI)/UO 2 on Tamusu claystone: Effects of Fe 2+/Fe 3+ and organic matters. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 348:140754. [PMID: 37995974 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
The claystone-based Tamusu area in the Bayingebi Basin, Inner Mongolia, is preselected as a China's high-level radioactive waste (HLRW) repository site. This study investigated the redox reactions of U(VI)/UO2 on Tamusu claystone. Five Tamusu claystone samples collected from boreholes Tzk1 and Tzk2 at different depths were used for batch experiments at pH ∼5.0, ∼7.0, and ∼9.0. These claystones contain considerable amounts of organic matters and Fe2+-containing minerals such as pyrite, fluorannite, and ankerite. Results showed that aqueous U(VI) could be partially reduced to U(IV) and/or U(V)-containing precipitates (U3O8, U4O9, etc.) by these Tamusu claystones, and the reaction is more favorable under acidic condition. We proposed that leaching of the structural Fe2+ followed by surface adsorption and interface reaction, is the primary mechanism responsible for U(VI) reduction. Under alkaline condition, organic matters might dominate the partial reduction of aqueous U(VI). Besides, the phosphorus-containing spots on Tamusu claystone surfaces are the reactive sites for U aggregation, implying the possible formation of U(VI)- and/or U(IV)-phosphate minerals. It is important to note that, due to the presence of minor Fe3+ in Tamusu claystones, the high-purity UO2 could undergo partial oxidation to U4O9 and/or U3O8. Therefore, insoluble UO2+x (0 < x ≤ 0.67) is proposed to be the most thermodynamically stable form in Tamusu claystone. This study enhances our comprehension of the essential geochemical processes of uranium in claystone surroundings, but also offers crucial information for the safety evaluation of China's HLRW repository.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingliang Kang
- Sino-French Institute of Nuclear Engineering and Technology, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, 519082, China.
| | - Yixiao Kang
- Sino-French Institute of Nuclear Engineering and Technology, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, 519082, China
| | - Hanyu Wu
- Sino-French Institute of Nuclear Engineering and Technology, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, 519082, China
| | - Danwen Qin
- Sino-French Institute of Nuclear Engineering and Technology, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, 519082, China
| | - Chaocheng Dai
- College of Earth Sciences, East China University of Technology, Nanchang, 330013, China
| | - Ju Wang
- Beijing Research Institute of Uranium Geology, Beijing, 100029, China
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Hettiarachchi E, Das M, Cadol D, Frey BA, Rubasinghege G. The fate of inhaled uranium-containing particles upon clearance to gastrointestinal tract. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2022; 24:1257-1266. [PMID: 35916312 DOI: 10.1039/d2em00209d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Uranium-bearing respirable dust can cause various health problems, such as cardiovascular and neurological disorders, cancers, immunosuppression, and autoimmunity. Exposure to elevated levels of uranium is linked to many such health conditions in Navajo Nation residents in northwestern New Mexico. Most studies have focused on the fate of inhaled dust particles (<4 μm) in the lungs. However, larger-sized inhaled particles (10-20 μm) can be cleared to the human gastrointestinal tract (GIT), thereby enabling them to interact with stomach and intestinal fluids. Despite the vital importance of understanding the fate of uranium-bearing solids entering the human GIT and their impact on body tissues, cells, and gut microbiota, our understanding remains limited. This study investigated uranium solubility from dust and sediment samples collected near two uranium mines in the Grants Mining District in New Mexico in two simulated gastrointestinal fluids representing fasting conditions in the GIT: Simulated Gastric Fluid (SGF) and Simulated Intestinal Fluid (SIF). The dissolution of uranium from dust depends on its mineralogy, fluid pH, and composition. The dust samples from the Jackpile mine favored higher solubility in the SIF solution, whereas the sediment samples from the St. Anthony Mine favored higher solubility in the SGF solution. Further, geochemical calculations performed with the PHREEQC modeling program suggested that samples rich in the minerals andersonite, tyuyamunite, and/or autunite have higher uranium dissolution in the SIF solution than in the SGF solution. We also tested the effect of added kaolinite and microcline, which are both present in some samples. The ratio of dissolved uranium in SGF relative to SIF decreases with the addition of kaolinite for all mineral phases but andersonite. With the addition of microcline, the ratio of dissolved uranium in SGF relative to SIF decreases for all the tested uranium minerals. The most prevalent oxidation state of dissolved uranium was computationally determined as +6, U(VI). The geochemical calculations made with PHREEQC agree with the experimentally observed results. Therefore, this study gives insight into the mineralogy-controlled toxicological assessment of uranium-containing inhaled dust cleared to the gastrointestinal tract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eshani Hettiarachchi
- Department of Chemistry, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, 801 Leroy Place, Socorro, NM 87801, USA.
| | - Milton Das
- Department of Chemistry, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, 801 Leroy Place, Socorro, NM 87801, USA.
| | - Daniel Cadol
- Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, 801 Leroy Place, Socorro, NM 87801, USA
| | - Bonnie A Frey
- New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, 801 Leroy Place, Socorro, NM 87801, USA
| | - Gayan Rubasinghege
- Department of Chemistry, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, 801 Leroy Place, Socorro, NM 87801, USA.
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El Hayek E, Medina S, Guo J, Noureddine A, Zychowski KE, Hunter R, Velasco CA, Wiesse M, Maestas-Olguin A, Brinker CJ, Brearley A, Spilde M, Howard T, Lauer FT, Herbert G, Ali AM, Burchiel S, Campen MJ, Cerrato JM. Uptake and Toxicity of Respirable Carbon-Rich Uranium-Bearing Particles: Insights into the Role of Particulates in Uranium Toxicity. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:9949-9957. [PMID: 34235927 PMCID: PMC8413144 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c01205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Particulate matter (PM) presents an environmental health risk for communities residing close to uranium (U) mine sites. However, the role of the particulate form of U on its cellular toxicity is still poorly understood. Here, we investigated the cellular uptake and toxicity of C-rich U-bearing particles as a model organic particulate containing uranyl citrate over a range of environmentally relevant concentrations of U (0-445 μM). The cytotoxicity of C-rich U-bearing particles in human epithelial cells (A549) was U-dose-dependent. No cytotoxic effects were detected with soluble U doses. Carbon-rich U-bearing particles with a wide size distribution (<10 μm) presented 2.7 times higher U uptake into cells than the particles with a narrow size distribution (<1 μm) at 100 μM U concentration. TEM-EDS analysis identified the intracellular translocation of clusters of C-rich U-bearing particles. The accumulation of C-rich U-bearing particles induced DNA damage and cytotoxicity as indicated by the increased phosphorylation of the histone H2AX and cell death, respectively. These findings reveal the toxicity of the particulate form of U under environmentally relevant heterogeneous size distributions. Our study opens new avenues for future investigations on the health impacts resulting from environmental exposures to the particulate form of U near mine sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eliane El Hayek
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, MSC03 2060, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, United States
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, MSC09 5360, University of New Mexico, College of Pharmacy, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, United States
| | - Sebastian Medina
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, MSC09 5360, University of New Mexico, College of Pharmacy, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, United States
- Department of Biology, New Mexico Highlands University, Las Vegas, New Mexico 87701, United States
| | - Jimin Guo
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, MSC01 1120, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, United States
- Department of Internal Medicine, Molecular Medicine, MSC08 4720, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, United States
| | - Achraf Noureddine
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, MSC01 1120, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, United States
| | - Katherine E Zychowski
- Department of Biobehavioral Health and Data Sciences, MSC09 5350, University of New Mexico College of Nursing, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87106, United States
| | - Russell Hunter
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, MSC09 5360, University of New Mexico, College of Pharmacy, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, United States
| | - Carmen A Velasco
- Department of Civil Engineering, MSC01 1070, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, United States
- Chemical Engineering Faculty, Central University of Ecuador, Ciudad Universitaria, Ritter s/n & Bolivia, P.O. Box 17-01-3972, Quito 170129, Ecuador
| | - Marco Wiesse
- Department of Civil Engineering, MSC01 1070, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, United States
| | - Angelea Maestas-Olguin
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, MSC01 1120, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, United States
| | - C Jeffrey Brinker
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, MSC01 1120, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, United States
| | - Adrian Brearley
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, MSC03 2040, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, United States
| | - Michael Spilde
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, MSC03 2040, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, United States
| | - Tamara Howard
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, MSC08 4750, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, United States
| | - Fredine T Lauer
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, MSC09 5360, University of New Mexico, College of Pharmacy, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, United States
| | - Guy Herbert
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, MSC09 5360, University of New Mexico, College of Pharmacy, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, United States
| | - Abdul Mehdi Ali
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, MSC03 2040, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, United States
| | - Scott Burchiel
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, MSC09 5360, University of New Mexico, College of Pharmacy, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, United States
| | - Matthew J Campen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, MSC09 5360, University of New Mexico, College of Pharmacy, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, United States
| | - José M Cerrato
- Department of Civil Engineering, MSC01 1070, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, United States
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Wilson A, Velasco CA, Herbert GW, Lucas SN, Sanchez BN, Cerrato JM, Spilde M, Li QZ, Campen MJ, Zychowski KE. Mine-site derived particulate matter exposure exacerbates neurological and pulmonary inflammatory outcomes in an autoimmune mouse model. JOURNAL OF TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. PART A 2021; 84:503-517. [PMID: 33682625 PMCID: PMC8052313 DOI: 10.1080/15287394.2021.1891488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
The Southwestern United States has a legacy of industrial mining due to the presence of rich mineral ore deposits. The relationship between environmental inhaled particulate matter (PM) exposures and neurological outcomes within an autoimmune context is understudied. The aim of this study was to compare two regionally-relevant dusts from high-priority abandoned mine-sites, Claim 28 PM, from Blue Gap Tachee, AZ and St. Anthony mine PM, from the Pueblo of Laguna, NM and to expose autoimmune-prone mice (NZBWF1/J). Mice were randomly assigned to one of three groups (n = 8/group): DM (dispersion media, control), Claim 28 PM, or St. Anthony PM, subjected to oropharyngeal aspiration of (100 µg/50 µl), once per week for a total of 4 consecutive doses. A battery of immunological and neurological endpoints was assessed at 24 weeks of age including: bronchoalveolar lavage cell counts, lung gene expression, brain immunohistochemistry, behavioral tasks and serum autoimmune biomarkers. Bronchoalveolar lavage results demonstrated a significant increase in number of polymorphonuclear neutrophils following Claim 28 and St. Anthony mine PM aspiration. Lung mRNA expression showed significant upregulation in CCL-2 and IL-1ß following St. Anthony mine PM aspiration. In addition, neuroinflammation was present in both Claim 28 and St. Anthony mine-site derived PM exposure groups. Behavioral tasks resulted in significant deficits as determined by Y-maze new arm frequency following Claim 28 aspiration. Neutrophil elastase was significantly upregulated in the St. Anthony mine exposure group. Interestingly, there were no significant changes in serum autoantigens suggesting systemic inflammatory effects may be mediated through other molecular mechanisms following low-dose PM exposures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexis Wilson
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of New Mexico-Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131
| | - Carmen A. Velasco
- Department of Civil, Construction & Environmental Engineering, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Universidad Central del Ecuador, Ritter s/n & Bolivia, Quito 17-01-3972, Ecuador
| | - Guy W. Herbert
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of New Mexico-Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131
| | - Selita N. Lucas
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of New Mexico-Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131
| | - Bethany N. Sanchez
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of New Mexico-Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131
| | - José M. Cerrato
- Department of Civil, Construction & Environmental Engineering, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131
| | - Michael Spilde
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of New Mexico, MSC03 2040, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131
| | - Quan-Zhen Li
- Department of Immunology and Microarray Core, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390
| | - Matthew J. Campen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of New Mexico-Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131
| | - Katherine E. Zychowski
- College of Nursing, University of New Mexico-Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131
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Reinoso-Maset E, Perdrial N, Steefel CI, Um W, Chorover J, O'Day PA. Dissolved Carbonate and pH Control the Dissolution of Uranyl Phosphate Minerals in Flow-Through Porous Media. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2020; 54:6031-6042. [PMID: 32364719 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.9b06448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Uranyl phosphate minerals represent an important secondary source of uranium release at contaminated sites. In flow-through column experiments with background porewater (BPW) of typical freshwater aquifer composition (pH 7.0, ∼0.2 mM total carbonate (TC)), dissolution of K-ankoleite (KUO2PO4·3H2O), Na-autunite (NaUO2PO4·3H2O), and Ca-autunite (Ca(UO2)2(PO4)2·6H2O) was controlled by mineral solubility at steady-state U release. Effluent concentrations indicated exchange with BPW cations, and postreaction characterization showed alteration of the initial mineral composition, changes in structure (decreased crystallinity, increased disorder, and distortion of U-P mineral sheets) and possible neoformation of phases of similar structure. Increasing the BPW pH and TC to 8.1-8.2 and 2.2-3.7 mM, respectively, resulted in mineral undersaturation and produced ca. 2 orders-of-magnitude higher U and P release without reaching steady state. Minerals incorporated less BPW cations into their structures compared to low carbonate BPW experiments but showed structural disorder and distortion. Faster dissolution rates were attributed to the formation of binary and ternary uranyl carbonate complexes that accelerate the rate-determining step of uranyl detachment from the uranyl-phosphate layered structure. Calculated dissolution rates (log Rs between -8.95 and -10.32 mol m-2 s-1), accounting for reaction and transport in porous media, were similar to dissolution rates of other classes of uranyl minerals. In undersaturated solutions, dissolution rates for uranyl phosphate, oxyhydroxide, and silicate minerals can be predicted within 1-2 orders-of-magnitude from pH ∼5-10 on the basis of pH/carbonate concentration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Estela Reinoso-Maset
- Sierra Nevada Research Institute, University of California Merced, 5200 North Lake Road, Merced, California 95343, United States
- Centre for Environmental Radioactivity CoE, Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, 1432 Aas, Norway
| | - Nicolas Perdrial
- Department of Geology, University of Vermont, 180 Colchester Avenue, Burlignton, Vermont 05405, United States
| | - Carl I Steefel
- Energy Geosciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, M.S. 74R316C, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Wooyong Um
- Energy and Environment Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 902 Battelle Boulevard, P7-54, Richland, Washington 99354, United States
- Division of Advanced Nuclear Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang 37673, South Korea
| | - Jon Chorover
- Department of Environmental Science, University of Arizona, 177 East Fourth Street, Tucson, Arizona 85721, United States
| | - Peggy A O'Day
- Sierra Nevada Research Institute, University of California Merced, 5200 North Lake Road, Merced, California 95343, United States
- Life and Environmental Sciences Department, School of Natural Sciences, University of California Merced, 5200 North Lake Road, Merced, California 95343, United States
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