What happens to uranium when it enters the environment?
• Uranium is already naturally present throughout the environment. Human activities, wind, streams, and volcanoes can move the uranium around and change the levels that you are exposed to. • Uranium is found in soil where it may stay for billions of years. • It exists as dust in the air and the dust settles onto surface water, soil, and plants. • Uranium enters water by dissolving soil, eroding soil and rocks, or in releases from processing plants. Larger particles settle into the bottom of lakes, rivers, and ponds and join uranium that is there naturally. • Some plants may absorb uranium or it may stick to the root surface.
