Superfund Research Program

March 2024

Paper of the Month or Year

A new approach developed by researchers at the University of New Mexico Superfund Research Program (SRP) Center combines limestone and a bone-like mineral called hydroxyapatite to remove arsenic and uranium from water. The method, which uses affordable materials, can remove contaminants through basic chemical bonding and precipitation.

According to the team, the method removes over 90% of metal contaminants from water and offers a more accessible solution to exposures for Tribal communities impacted by decades of hard rock mining. The results suggest a need for further investigation of how naturally occurring materials perform under true environmental conditions.

Read more in the NIEHS Environmental Factor Newsletter.