Economic and Environmental Geology (자원환경지질)

The Korean Society of Economic and Environmental Geology (대한자원환경지질학회)
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Characteristics of Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials in Groundwater from Aquifers Composed of Different Geological Settings in Ganghwa Island

강화도의 지질별 지하수 중 자연방사성 물질의 특성

  • Kim, Ikhyun (National Institute of Environmental Research) ;
  • Kim, MoonSu (National Institute of Environmental Research) ;
  • Hamm, Se-Yeong (Dept. of Geological Sciences, Pusan National University) ;
  • Kim, Hyunkoo (National Institute of Environmental Research) ;
  • Kim, Dongsoo (National Institute of Environmental Research) ;
  • Jo, Seongjin (National Institute of Environmental Research) ;
  • Lee, Heonmin (National Institute of Environmental Research) ;
  • Hwang, Jongyeon (National Institute of Environmental Research) ;
  • Jo, Hunje (National Institute of Environmental Research) ;
  • Park, Sunhwa (National Institute of Environmental Research) ;
  • Chung, Hyenmi (National Institute of Environmental Research)
  • Received : 2018.02.05
  • Accepted : 2018.02.27
  • Published : 2018.02.28
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Abstract

Groundwaters in different rock types (Mesozoic granite, Precambrian gneiss, and schist) of Ganghwa island, Incheon City were characterized by using naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) and hydrogeochemical constituents. For the study, groundwater samples from 69 wells had been collected over eight years. Statistical methods were applied to relate hydrogeochemical components and NORM in the groundwater samples. The groundwater samples belonged to $Ca(Na)-HCO_3$ types. The uranium concentrations in three groundwater samples exceeded 30 ug/L of United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) maximum contaminant level (MCL). The radon concentrations in 28 groundwater samples exceeded 4,000 pCi/L (picocuries per Liter) of US EPA alternative maximum contaminant level (AMCL). Gross-alpha in all the groundwater samples did not exceed 15 pCi/L of US EPA MCL. The average concentrations of uranium and radon in groundwater were the highest in granite area, and then gneiss, schist areas in order. In schist area, the correlation coefficient (R) between radon and $HCO_3$ is -0.40 and R between uranium and $SO_4$ is 0.54. In gneiss area, the R between radon and uranium is 0.55 and the R between uranium and $SO_4$ is 0.41. According to factor analysis, each geological area shows different chemical characteristics. The statistical analysis of whole groundwater resulted in nearly no significant relationship among uranium, radon and chemical constituents. Subsequently, more detailed studies on hydrogeological, geochemical, and geological characteristics related to NORM are required to better understand the behavior and fate of NORM.

인천시 강화도의 지질별(중생대 화강암, 선캠브리아 편마암, 편암) 지하수의 자연방사성 물질과 수리지화학 성분의 특성을 연구하였다. 이 연구를 위하여, 8년 동안 69개 관정에서 지하수 시료를 채수하였다. 통계 분석을 이용하여 지하수의 수리지화학 성분과 자연방사성 물질의 관계를 분석하였다. 연구 지역 지하수의 수질유형은 $Ca(Na)-HCO_3$ 형으로 나타났다. 우라늄은 3 개 지하수 시료에서 US EPA의 MCL(최대 오염 물질 수준)인 30 ug/L을 초과하였다. 라돈은 28개 지하수 시료에서 US EPA의 제안치인 AMCL(대체 최대 오염 물질 수준)인 4,000 pCi/L을 초과하였다. 모든 지하수 시료의 전알파(Gross-alpha)는 US EPA MCL인 15 pCi/L를 초과하지 않았다. 지하수에서의 우라늄과 라돈의 평균농도는 화강암에서 가장 높고, 그 다음으로 편마암, 편암의 순이다. 편암 지역의 라돈은 $HCO_3$와 -0.40, 우라늄은 $SO_4$과 0.54의 상관계수를 보였고, 편마암 지역의 경우 라돈은 우라늄과 0.55, 우라늄은 $SO_4$과 0.41의 상관계수를 보였다. 요인분석에 의하면, 지질별로 각각 다른 거동특성을 가진다. 전체 지하수의 통계 분석 결과, 우라늄과 라돈 그리고 지화학 성분들 간에는 대체로 특이한 상관성을 나타내지 않았다. 자연방사성 물질의 거동과 운명을 보다 명확하게 이해하기 위해서는 자연방사성 물질의 수리지질학적, 지구화학적, 지질학적 특성에 대한 보다 상세한 연구가 요구된다.

Keywords

References

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