Abstract
Uranium concentrations (a total of 82 samples) in groundwater in Icheon, middle Korea, showed a wide range from 0.02 to 1640 μg/L with a mean of 56.77 μg/L, a median of 3.03 μg/L, and a standard deviation of 228.63 μg/L. Most groundwater samples had quite low concentrations: 32.9% were below 1 μg/L, while 15.9% exceeded 30 μg/L, the maximum contaminant level (MCL) of the US EPA (Environmental Protection Agency). Radon concentrations also ranged widely from 1.48 to 865.8 Bq/L. Although the standard deviation of radon was large (151.8 Bq/L), the mean was 211.29 Bq/L and the median was 176.86 Bq/L. Overall, 64.6% of the samples exceeded the alternative maximum contaminant level (AMCL) of the US EPA (148 Bq/L). According to statistical analyses, there was no close correlations between uranium and radon, but there were correlations between uranium and redox potential (Eh) (−0.54), dissolved oxygen (DO) (−0.50), HCO3− (0.45), Sr (0.65), and SiO2 (−0.44). Radon showed independent behavior with respect to most components in groundwater. Uranium concentrations in groundwater increased with increasing water–rock interactions. Anomalously high uranium and radon concentrations in groundwater are preferentially localized in granite areas and spatial distributions are remarkably heterogeneous.
Highlights
Radionuclides such as uranium and radon naturally occur in groundwater around the world.at high concentrations, they can be harmful to public health and their mobility is sensitive to aqueous geochemical conditions
Uranium concentrations in groundwater increased with increasing water–rock interactions
High uranium and radon concentrations in groundwater are preferentially localized in granite areas and spatial distributions are remarkably heterogeneous
Summary
Radionuclides such as uranium and radon naturally occur in groundwater around the world.at high concentrations, they can be harmful to public health and their mobility is sensitive to aqueous geochemical conditions. Radionuclides such as uranium and radon naturally occur in groundwater around the world. Many studies have reported higher uranium and radon concentrations in groundwater in granitic terrains [3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10]. Higher radon concentrations are commonly detected in areas underlain by granites that usually contain more uranium than other rock types [8,9,10]. The radon concentration in groundwater generally increases with an increase in the uranium content of the soil and bedrock [11,12], but is highly variable, depending on aquifer characteristics, bedrock geology, water chemistry, and good conditions [4,13,14]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
