Abstract
Inland basins show various redox conditions in the groundwater system, which control the distribution and transportation of redox-sensitive radionuclides. However, the origin and fate of groundwater radionuclides in those basins are still unclear. High levels of naturally occurring uranium (U) and radon (Rn) have been observed in low total dissolved solid and oxic groundwater in the recharge area of the Hetao basin, a typical inland basin. Around 80% of investigated groundwater had U concentrations above the international drinking water standards (30 μg/L), and 97% exceeded the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) guideline of 11.1 Bq/L Rn. Groundwater U was mobilized by oxic weathering and complexation with carbonate, while Rn-222 was mainly provided by α recoil of adsorbed Ra on the aquifer solids. Relatively high radium (Ra) activities were frequently found in reducing groundwater of the transition area and the flat plain, although combined Ra-226 and Ra-228 did not exceed the inter...
Published Version
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