Abstract
Since 2007, Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (NORM) such as uranium-238 and radon-222 etc. in groundwater from the Community Water-supply Systems (CWS) in two islands have been studied in South Korea. In 71 samples from Ganghwa (G) Island, the maximum value of uranium-238 concentration is 72.21 μg/L. 3 CWSs (4.2%) exceeded the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) of 30 μg/L for uranium-238. The maximum value of radon-222 activity is 614 Bq/L. 28 CWSs (39.4 %) did not meet the United States Environment Protection Agency (US EPA) proposed Alternative Maximum Contaminant Level (AMCL) of 148 Bq/L for radon-222. At all CWS that did not meet the US EPA’s MCL or AMCL, some appropriate actions were taken such as water treatment, alternative well development, mixing water of different origins, and so forth. In the 52 CWSs of Jeju (J) Island, the maximum value of uranium-238 and radon-222 concentrations are 1.37 μg/L and 94.83 Bq/L, respectively. All values for uranium-238, gross alpha, and radon-222 meet MCL and proposed AMCL of US EPA drinking water standard. The two islands have different geological settings that are believed to be the causes of the big differences in the NORM levels. Geologically an old island has much higher NORM values than a young island formed in the Quaternary Period due to hydrogeological factors such as recharge and infiltration rates of precipitation. The residence times in the aquifers for water-rock (mineral) interactions are very different from each other.
Highlights
In South Korea, some community water-supply systems with high levels of uranium-238 and radon-222 in drinking groundwater have been reported and broadcast several times by major media such as News 9 by the Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) and Newsdesk by Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC)Geologia Croatica 71/2Geologia CroaticaTelevision News etc., and the various newspapers such as The Hankyoreh and The Chosunilbo etc., since 1998
Since 2007, Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (NORM) such as uranium-238 and radon-222 etc. in groundwater from the Community Water-supply Systems (CWS) in two islands have been studied in South Korea
Uranium-238 is known as the chemical that is increasing kidney toxicity (US EPA, 2000) and radon-222 is infamous as the NORM chemical causing lung cancer (National Academy Press, 1999)
Summary
In South Korea, some community water-supply systems with high levels of uranium-238 and radon-222 in drinking groundwater have been reported and broadcast several times by major media such as News 9 by the Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) and Newsdesk by Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC)Geologia Croatica 71/2Geologia CroaticaTelevision News etc., and the various newspapers such as The Hankyoreh and The Chosunilbo etc., since 1998. In South Korea, some community water-supply systems with high levels of uranium-238 and radon-222 in drinking groundwater have been reported and broadcast several times by major media such as News 9 by the Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) and Newsdesk by Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC). The news made the national assembly of the republic of Korea, requiring several actions by Ministry of Environment during the inspection and investigation of state administration. On naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) in groundwater have been performed since 1999. Uranium-238 is known as the chemical that is increasing kidney toxicity (US EPA, 2000) and radon-222 is infamous as the NORM chemical causing lung cancer (National Academy Press, 1999). This study aims to determine the levels of the NORM in groundwater from the community water-supply systems (CWSs) on two islands in South Korea (Fig. 1). Population, and annual precipitations of two islands are 410.6 km people, and 1,076 mm/year in 2016 for Ganghwa (G) Island and 1848.7 km 641597 people, and 1,416 mm/year in 2016 for Jeju (J) Island (KOREA LAND & HOUSING CORPORATION, 2017)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 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.
