High level of uranium found in Ulan Bator's groundwater
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E-mail Xinhua, April 25, 2012
A high level of uranium has been detected in the groundwater in the Mongolian capital, local media reported.
The finding was made in a deep-well water research program conducted by a group of U.S. and Mongolian researchers in Ulan Bator last July in order to determine the arsenic content, according to the reports released Monday.
The joint team of University of Michigan - Ann Arbor and National University for Medical Science of Mongolia extracted water samples from 129 deep wells in the city's seven districts and sent the samples to the United States for analysis.
The results, according to the report, showed that the average uranium content is 4.6 milligram per liter, which is significantly above the safe level recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).
The researchers have yet to determine the causes.
Uranium is a radioactive and poisonous chemical element which can produce negative impacts on the human genetic system. Drinking water with uranium can also damage such organs as liver and kidney and might eventually lead to cancer.
