• Environmental Characteristics of Natural Radionuclides in Groundwaters in Volcanic Rock Areas: Korea
  • Jeong, Do Hwan;Kim, Moon Su;Ju, Byoung Kyu;Hong, Jung Ki;Kim, Dong Su;Kim, Hyun Koo;Kim, Hye Jin;Park, Sun Hwa;Han, Jin Seok;Kim, Tae Seung;
  • Soil and Groundwater Division, National Institute of Environmental Research;Soil and Groundwater Division, National Institute of Environmental Research;Soil and Groundwater Division, National Institute of Environmental Research;Soil and Groundwater Division, National Institute of Environmental Research;Soil and Groundwater Division, National Institute of Environmental Research;Soil and Groundwater Division, National Institute of Environmental Research;Soil and Groundwater Division, National Institute of Environmental Research;Soil and Groundwater Division, National Institute of Environmental Research;Soil and Groundwater Division, National Institute of Environmental Research;Soil and Groundwater Division, National Institute of Environmental Research;
  • 국내 화산암 지역 지하수 중 자연방사성 물질에 대한 환경 특성
  • 정도환;김문수;주병규;홍정기;김동수;김현구;김혜진;박선화;한진석;김태승;
  • 국립환경과학원 토양지하수연구과;국립환경과학원 토양지하수연구과;국립환경과학원 토양지하수연구과;국립환경과학원 토양지하수연구과;국립환경과학원 토양지하수연구과;국립환경과학원 토양지하수연구과;국립환경과학원 토양지하수연구과;국립환경과학원 토양지하수연구과;국립환경과학원 토양지하수연구과;국립환경과학원 토양지하수연구과;
Abstract
We analyzed natural radionuclides in 80 wells in volcanic rock areas and investigated environmental characteristics. Uranium and radon concentrations ranged from ND to $9.70{\mu}g/L$ (median value: 0.21) ${\mu}g/L$, 38~29,222 pCi/L (median value: 579), respectively. In case of gross-${\alpha}$, 26 samples exceeded MDA (minimum detectable activity, < 0.9 pCi/L) value and the activity values ranged from 1.05 to 8.06 pCi/L. The radionuclides concentrations did not exceed USEPA MCL (maximum contaminant level) value of Uranium ($30{\mu}g/L$) and gross-${\alpha}$ (15 pCi/L). But Rn concentrations in 4 samples exceeded USEPA AMCL (Alternative maximum contaminant level, 4,000 pci/L) and one of them showed a significantly higher value (29,222 pCi/L) than the others. The levels of uranium concentrations in volcanic rock aquifer regions were detected in order of andesite, miscellaneous volcanic rocks, rhyolite, basalt aquifer regions. Radon, however, was detected in order of miscellaneous volcanic rocks, rhyolite, andesite, basalt aquifer regions. The correlation coefficient between uranium and radon was r = 0.45, but we found that correlations of radionuclides with in-situ data or major ions were weak or no significant. The correlation coefficient between the depth of wells and uranium concentrations was a slightly higher than that of depth of wells and radons. Radionuclide concentrations in volcanic rock aquifers showed lower levels than those of other rock aquifers such as granite, metamorphic rock aquifers, etc. This result may imply difference of host rock's bearing-radioactive-mineral contents among rock types of aquifers.

Keywords: Volcanic rock;Radionuclides (U, Rn, gross-${\alpha}$);Correlation coefficient;Geologic setting;Groundwater;

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This Article

  • 2013; 18(1): 36-45

    Published on Feb 28, 2013

  • 10.7857/JSGE.2013.18.1.036
  • Received on Oct 14, 2012
  • Revised on Feb 2, 2013
  • Accepted on Feb 14, 2013