A study published in the journal Environmental Science: Processes and Impacts entitled titled “Environmental impact of an acid-forming alum shale waste rock legacy site in Norway”  by M. Pelkonen and colleagues at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences and the University of Helsinki focuses on the environmental impact of an acid-forming alum shale waste rock legacy site in Norway. The study investigates the potential environmental impact of alum shale waste rock, which is enriched in uranium and may produce acid rock drainage (ARD) due to oxidation of sulphide-bearing minerals. The ARD process can release harmful elements, including naturally occurring radioactive materials, into the environment. The study mapped the extent of contamination caused by ARD from weathering alum shale waste rock used as filling materials during the construction of a highway 15 km southeast of Oslo, Norway, in the 1980s. The results showed that the ongoing ARD poses environmental and radiological risks to the surrounding ecosystem due to the presence of mobile and bioavailable species of potentially toxic elements and NOR, many exceeding drinking water guidelines and soil environmental quality standards. The study emphasises the importance of understanding the geochemical processes governing alum shale weathering and ARD formation for better monitoring and management strategies. Upcoming publications will look into mobility of key contaminants and role of local bacteria and archaea, with a focus on uranium and associated biogeochemical processes.

This and more publications can be found on the RadoNorm website.