How natural attenuation can benefit the environment: a case study of a water reservoir in Brazil.

This paper investigates the occurrence of natural attenuation in sediments from a water reservoir impacted by metals and radionuclides resulting from acid mine drainage. The chemical and radiochemical characterization indicated the enrichment of radionuclides (238U and 226Ra) and metals (Zn) in the sediments. The isotopic deviation δ34S (− 1.3 to − 17.4‰) and high contents of Acid Volatile Sulfide (2.34 to 5.71 g kg−1) indicated the occurrence of natural attenuation all through the reservoir, which contributes to the chemical stabilization of the contaminants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]