Radioactive contamination
Some organs concentrate certain elements and hence radionuclide variants of those elements. This action may lead to much lower removal rates. For instance, the thyroid gland takes up a large percentage of any iodine that enters the body. Large quantities of inhaled or ingested radioactive iodine may impair or destroy the thyroid, while other tissues are affected to a lesser extent. Radioactive iodine-131 is a common fission product; it was a major component of the radioactivity released from the Chernobyl disaster, leading to nine fatal cases of pediatric thyroid cancer and hypothyroidism. On the other hand, radioactive iodine is used in the diagnosis and treatment of many diseases of the thyroid precisely because of the thyroid's selective uptake of iodine.
Uranium acid mine drainage
Results from studies done in 2002 showed a significant negative correlation between both dissolved uranium radionuclides and hydrogen ions with pH in mine waters. Sorption of dissolved uranium radionuclides in rivers combine with nearby rock sediments can form minerals like Uranophane for example. The chemistry and findings in this case is essentially representative of other uranium mines in the world.
A uranium radionuclide is a radioactive isotope. Radioactivity is natural in the environment, however uranium radionuclides can lead to radioactive decay.In the case of uranium mines, these radionuclides can leach into the water and cause the radioactivity to be carried elsewhere, as well as form precipitates that can be harmful to the environment. The uranium radionuclides can eventually be carried to fruits and vegetables via contaminated waters. Sulfuric acid, oxidation, and alkaline leaching are processes of how radionuclides make their way into the environment. When uranium decays it also produces the isotopes Ra and Rn, which may be environmentally harmful due to the fact that radon is present as an inert gas and therefore, might enter into the soil or atmosphere. Radon then can emit alpha particles and gamma radiation. Three different radioactive isotopes of uranium are uranium-238, uranium-235, and uranium-234. Each has a different half life which determines the isotope's decay rate. When uranium-235 combines with other molecules it creates a chemical reaction that can cause detrimental effects to water. Even though isotope formation occurs naturally, when combined with other elements it can cause the pH of water to become more acidic as discussed previously.