Abstract:Heavy metal speciation and distribution characteristics of groundwater around uranium mine tailing were analyzed through field sampling and laboratory experiments applying groundwater around a uranium mine tailing as research object. Health risk assessment of heavy metal pollution in groundwater was conducted applying risk evaluation model recommended by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The results show that heavy metals exist mainly as stronger toxicities. Distribution of Cr and Cd is higher in the northwest and lower in the southwest, Cu is higher in the east and lower in the west, and Pb is relatively higher in the vicinity of tailing and the north. Health risk assessment shows that the total non-carcinogenic risk of adult people and children is 1.95E-09 a-1 and 3.06E-09 a-1, respectively, the total carcinogenic risk of adult people and children is 3.17E-07 a-1 and 4.96E-07 a-1, respectively. All the carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risk levels are within the acceptable range suggested by EPA and ICRP.