Investigation into the potential migration of depleted uranium from an alloy residing in the terrestrial environment under contrasting physicochemical soil condition

Depleted uranium (DU) has, over recent years, become an issue of considerable public and scientific concern following the realisation that this material has become dispersed in the environment. In the long term, the principal environmental source and sink for DU contamination is the soil. The physicochemical soil conditions in which DU resides will play a critical role in determining corrosion rates and the extent of migration, and thus the potential exposure to humans and other organisms. This thesis summarises the main conclusions drawn from a year-long soil column experiment and a six month 'rhizobox' study, both of which were conducted to obtain quantitative data regarding DU corrosion and migration rates, its chemical deposition and biological uptake into Lo/mm perenne (Perennial ryegrass) under differing physicochemical conditions. The experimental soil systems were contaminated with DU in a metallic alloy form, derived from the penetrating tips of CHARM-3 armour-piercing shells.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo