Volume 10, Issue 3 (September 2025)
J Environ Health Sustain Dev 2025, 10(3): 2757-2770 |
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Rabee Haghighi J, Teimouri F, Seddighzadeh A, Mosleh Arani A, Abouee E, Nasiri T. Phytoremediation of Uranium-238 and Thorium-232 in Contaminated Soils Using Native Dryland Shrubs. J Environ Health Sustain Dev 2025; 10 (3) :2757-2770
URL: http://jehsd.ssu.ac.ir/article-1-948-en.html
URL: http://jehsd.ssu.ac.ir/article-1-948-en.html
Javad Rabee Haghighi 
, Fahimeh Teimouri * 
, Asghar Seddighzadeh , Asghar Mosleh Arani , Ehsan Abouee , Tannaz Nasiri
, Fahimeh Teimouri * , Asghar Seddighzadeh , Asghar Mosleh Arani , Ehsan Abouee , Tannaz Nasiri
Environmental Sciences and Technology Research Center, Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
Abstract: (29 Views)
Introduction: This study investigated the phytoremediation potential of Atriplex canescens, Haloxylon aphyllum, and Nitraria schoberi for decontaminating soil polluted with radioactive elements.
Materials and Methods: Contaminated soil was collected from a uranium mine site. Compost and sawdust were used as soil amendments. Radionuclide activities and concentrations were determined using gamma spectrometry and ICP-MS.
Results: H. aphyllum demonstrated the highest uptake of radioactive elements, accumulating 58 mg.kg-1 of Th-232 and 28.08 mg.kg-1 of U-238, respectively. Considering their initial concentrations, the thorium removal efficiency was higher than that of uranium, with a maximum of 85% for Th-232 achieved by H. aphyllum. Plant roots accumulated higher concentrations of radionuclides than the stems. A comparison of phytoremediation factors (TF, BAF, and BCF) indicated that H. aphyllum had a greater stabilization potential than the other two species. Furthermore, phytoextraction was identified as the dominant remediation mechanism.
Conclusion: Compost application enhanced the phytostabilization potential of all three plants (e.g., as indicated by the increase in BCF, which reached a maximum of 0.45 for H. aphyllum). In contrast, sawdust had an inhibitory effect, likely due to the disruption of the C/N ratio, which prevented plant growth. H. aphyllum showed significant potential for radioactive soil rehabilitation, particularly when it was amended with compost.
Materials and Methods: Contaminated soil was collected from a uranium mine site. Compost and sawdust were used as soil amendments. Radionuclide activities and concentrations were determined using gamma spectrometry and ICP-MS.
Results: H. aphyllum demonstrated the highest uptake of radioactive elements, accumulating 58 mg.kg-1 of Th-232 and 28.08 mg.kg-1 of U-238, respectively. Considering their initial concentrations, the thorium removal efficiency was higher than that of uranium, with a maximum of 85% for Th-232 achieved by H. aphyllum. Plant roots accumulated higher concentrations of radionuclides than the stems. A comparison of phytoremediation factors (TF, BAF, and BCF) indicated that H. aphyllum had a greater stabilization potential than the other two species. Furthermore, phytoextraction was identified as the dominant remediation mechanism.
Conclusion: Compost application enhanced the phytostabilization potential of all three plants (e.g., as indicated by the increase in BCF, which reached a maximum of 0.45 for H. aphyllum). In contrast, sawdust had an inhibitory effect, likely due to the disruption of the C/N ratio, which prevented plant growth. H. aphyllum showed significant potential for radioactive soil rehabilitation, particularly when it was amended with compost.
Type of Study: Original articles |
Subject:
Solid remediation and wastes
Received: 2025/06/3 | Accepted: 2025/08/20 | Published: 2025/09/30
Received: 2025/06/3 | Accepted: 2025/08/20 | Published: 2025/09/30
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