Concentration dynamics and speciation of uranium in a boreal forest creek – six years of weekly observations

Abstract

The concentrations of major components as well as uranium and some transition metals (Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb) and DOC were measured in a small creek within a boreal catchment during a six years time period. Variations up to four orders were found during the entire period. There was an evident correlation between uranium concentration with concentrations of Fe and Al, however not with DOC (in the absence of carbonate, average pH of 5.5). It is evident that environmental quality monitoring in small catchments must include the highly variable conditions leading to large variations in concentrations and speciation.