A comprehensive review of Uranium in the terrestrial and aquatic environment: bioavailability, immobilization, tolerance and remediation approaches

Background and aims Uranium (U), a highly deleterious radionuclide, has attracted global attention because its radiotoxicity and chemical toxicity causes severe damage to terrestrial and marine organisms. In the past few decades, numerous research has been done on immobilization, tolerance, remediation approaches and sources of U in the polluted media, and appraising the uptake and toxicity to the terrestrial plants. There are few literature reviews that elucidated the impact of soil and microbial properties on uranium immobilization and remediation methods to overcome U contamination in the natural environment. In this review, we tried to discuss biogeochemical cycling, sources, impact of soil properties on uranium immobilization and different remediation techniques involved in U treatment. Method This review synthesized the available evidence of potential sources of Uranium, remediation techniques, and biogeochemical cycling, and further discussed the impact of soil properties on uranium immobilization based on available literature. Results In this comprehensive review, we presented the key sources of U contamination, their occurrences, utility, and biogeochemical cycling. Moreover, the impact of U on biochemical properties and detoxification mechanisms in plants has been briefly discussed and proposed nanotechnology-based strategic engineering solutions to reduce the U in the natural environment. Conclusions The information provided and explained in this literature review is useful for the policymakers/decision makers/environmentalists to provide serious challenges, research directions, alternative technologies and methods for recovery of U contamination in the environment. Graphical abstract