Uranium – A problem in the elbe catchment area?

Abstract

Data from the Elbe River and its tributaries indicate that the river water quality has been improved since reunification due to the closure of mining and industrial sites. Despite those actions uranium concentrations which exceed the environmental quality norms are still measured in some parts of the Elbe catchment. Former mining areas are still the main uranium sources. The contributing loads from Zwickauer Mulde and Saale tributaries are still relevant for the total uranium concentrations in the Elbe catchment. Further, there is a relevant amount of heavy metals still available from the sediments, which acted as metal sinks. As in the Hamburg Harbor uranium values were analyzed in the sediment in the range of the natural background, the relevant geochemical sink for uranium is situated between Magdeburg and Hamburg harbor and should be subjected to further investigations.