Occurrence of Radionuclides and Radionuclide Therapy

Abstract

Uranium-238 may be a common chemical element in many rock types. Uranium is merely weakly carcinogenic, but is toxic and causes kidney damage at elevated concentrations when consumed in drinking water. Because uranium is very soluble in its oxidized forms but only slightly soluble in its reduced forms, its concentrations in groundwater depend upon redox conditions, also as on pH and on concentrations of bicarbonate.