Abstract:Uranium shallow tailings in Xiangshan, Jiangxi Province were selected to analyze distribution and formation mechanism of radionuclide (238U, 226Ra, 232Th, 40K) in agricultural soils and shallow tailings. The results show that radionuclide content in surface layer of paddy soil exhibits different law with increase of depth, which is all higher than the standard value. Migration occurs on radionuclide in tailings. Soil background value of radionuclide in Jiangxi Province and single factor evaluation method are applied to evaluate contents of 238U, 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K, pollution indexes of 238U, 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K are all higher than one. Paddy soil surrounding uranium tailings are already contaminated by radionuclide.