Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment (한국지하수토양환경학회지:지하수토양환경)

Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment (한국지하수토양환경학회)
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Environmental Characteristics of Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (238U, 222Rn) Concentration in Drinking Groundwaters of Metamorphic Rock Areas: Korea

국내 변성암 지역 음용지하수 중 자연방사성물질(238U, 222Rn)의 환경 특성 연구

  • Ju, Byoung Kyu (Soil and Groundwater Division, National Institute of Environmental Research) ;
  • Kim, Moon Su (Soil and Groundwater Division, National Institute of Environmental Research) ;
  • Jeong, Do Hwan (Soil and Groundwater Division, National Institute of Environmental Research) ;
  • Hong, Jung Ki (Soil and Groundwater Division, National Institute of Environmental Research) ;
  • Kim, Dong Su (Soil and Groundwater Division, National Institute of Environmental Research) ;
  • Noh, Hoe Jung (Soil and Groundwater Division, National Institute of Environmental Research) ;
  • Yoon, Jeong Ki (Soil and Groundwater Division, National Institute of Environmental Research) ;
  • Kim, Tae Seung (Soil and Groundwater Division, National Institute of Environmental Research)
  • 주병규 (국립환경과학원 토양지하수연구과) ;
  • 김문수 (국립환경과학원 토양지하수연구과) ;
  • 정도환 (국립환경과학원 토양지하수연구과) ;
  • 홍정기 (국립환경과학원 토양지하수연구과) ;
  • 김동수 (국립환경과학원 토양지하수연구과) ;
  • 노회정 (국립환경과학원 토양지하수연구과) ;
  • 윤정기 (국립환경과학원 토양지하수연구과) ;
  • 김태승 (국립환경과학원 토양지하수연구과)
  • Received : 2013.04.10
  • Accepted : 2013.06.18
  • Published : 2013.06.30
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Abstract

This study has investigated naturally occurring radioactive materials (N.O.R.M; $^{238}U$, $^{222}Rn$) for 353 drinking groundwater wells in metamorphic rock areas in Korea. Uranium concentrations ranged from N.D (not detected) to 563.56 ${\mu}g/L$ (median value, 0.68 ${\mu}g/L$) and radon concentrations ranged from 108 to 11,612 pCi/L (median value, 1,400 pCi/L). Uranium and radon concentrations in the groundwater generally are similar to USA with similar geological setting. Uranium concentrations in 9 wells (2.6%) exceeded 30 ${\mu}g/L$, which is the maximum contaminant level (MCL) by the US environmental protection agency (EPA), radon concentrations in 46 wells (13%) exceeded 4,000 pCi/L, which is the Alternative MCL (AMCL) by the US.EPA. The log-log correlation coefficient between uranium and radon was 0.32. The correlation coefficient between uranium and pH was 0.12 and the correlation coefficient between radon and temperature was -0.01. The correlation coefficient between uranium and $HCO_3$ was 0.09 and the correlation coefficient between uranium and Ca was 0.11. The median value of uranium was high Chung-Buk (1.78 ${\mu}g/L$), Gyeong-Buk (1.37 ${\mu}g/L$), In-Cheon (1.06 ${\mu}g/L$) for each province. On the other hand, the median value of radon was high In-Cheon (2,962 pCi/L), Chung-Buk (2,339 pCi/L), Jeon-Buk (2,165 pCi/L) for each province. Jeon-Buk for log-log correlation coefficient is the highest (0.63) among provinces.

Keywords

References

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