Evaluation of ecotoxicity of uranium smelting area receiving effluent using ostracods

Physico-chemical methods were used to assess the contamination status of water bodies near a uranium mine pit and tailings pond in northern Guangdong. The results of the evaluation showed that the content, P i values and ecological risk index of U and Cd were high and exhibited serious hazard levels, while the remaining elements were weakly contaminated. On this basis, ecotoxicity evaluation was carried out using the ostracods Heterocypris sp. and Cypridopsis vidua . The results were consistent with the physico-chemical data, and both genera were sensitive indicators of the degree of water pollution, with the higher the degree of pollution, the greater the mortality of individuals and vice versa.