A comprehensive review on health and environmental hazards of uranium. Analytical techniques, mitigation strategies and its toxicity treatments

The widespread and excessive occurrence of uranium causes serious environmental risks. This review presents several important analytical methods for determining elemental and isotopic levels of uranium in samples, involving inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), Raman spectroscopy, LED fluorimetry, multi-collector ICP-MS (MC-ICP-MS) and high-resolution ICP-MS (HR-ICP-MS). Furthermore, the methods and application of microbial remediation and phytoremediation in uranium contaminated soil are summarised in this review. A comprehensive discussion is also provided on several mitigation techniques that effectively used to remove uranium from water. These remediation techniques include a variety of biochars, nanotechnology and removal using magnesium-iron based hydrotalcite- like complexes. (author)