Economic and Environmental Geology (자원환경지질)

The Korean Society of Economic and Environmental Geology (대한자원환경지질학회)
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Hydrogeochemistry and Occurrences of Uranium and Radon in Groundwater of Mungyeong Area

문경지역 지하수의 수리지화학 및 우라늄과 라돈의 산출 특성

  • Lee, Byeongdae (Geologic Environment Division, Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources) ;
  • Cho, Byung Uk (Geologic Environment Division, Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources) ;
  • Kim, Moon Su (Soil and Groundwater Research Division, National Institute of Environmental Research) ;
  • Hwang, Jae Hong (Geoplatform Division, Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources)
  • 이병대 (한국지질자원연구원 지질환경연구본부) ;
  • 조병욱 (한국지질자원연구원 지질환경연구본부) ;
  • 김문수 (국립환경과학원 토양지하수연구과) ;
  • 황재홍 (한국지질자원연구원 지오플랫폼연구본부)
  • Received : 2018.11.27
  • Accepted : 2018.12.15
  • Published : 2018.12.28
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Abstract

The occurrence of natural radionuclides like uranium and radon in groundwater was hydrochemically examined based on 40 well groundwaters in Mungyeong area. The range of electrical conductivity (EC) value in the study area was $68{\sim}574{\mu}S/cm$. In addition to the increase of EC value, the content of cations and anions also tends to increase. Uranium concentrations ranged from $0.03{\sim}169{\mu}g/L$ (median value, $0.82{\mu}g/L$) and radon concentrations ranged from 70~30,700 pCi/L (median value, 955 pCi/L). Only 1 out of 40 wells (2.5%) showed uranium concentration exceeding the maximum contaminant level (MCL; $30{\mu}g/L$) proposed by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Radon concentrations of eight wells (20%) exceeded AMCL(Alternative maximum contaminant level) of the US EPA (4,000 pCi/L). Four out of those eight wells even exceeded Finland's guideline level (8,100 pCi/L). When concentrations of uranium and radon were investigated in terms of geology, the highest values are generally associated with granite. The uranium and radon levels observed in this study are low in comparison to those of other countries with similar geological settings. It is likely that the measured value was lower than the actual content due to the inflow of shallow groundwater by the lack of casing and grouting.

문경지역 지하수관정 40개공을 대상으로 지하수의 수리지화학 및 자연방사성물질인 우라늄과 라돈의 산출특성을 규명하였다. 연구지역 지하수의 EC는 최소 68에서 최대 $574{\mu}S/cm$의 범위를 나타내고 있으며, EC의 증가와 더불어 주요 용존 양이온과 음이온의 함량도 증가하는 경향을 나타낸다. 우라늄 함량은 $0.03{\sim}169{\mu}g/L$(중앙값 $0.82{\mu}g/L$)로 매우 넓은 분포를 보여주고 있으며, 라돈 함량은 70~30,700 pCi/L(중앙값 955 pCi/L)의 범위를 나타내고 있다. 우라늄 함량에서 미국 EPA MCL $30{\mu}g/L$를 초과한 곳은 1개소로 전체 시료수의 2.5%에 해당된다. 라돈의 경우, 미국 EPA AMCL 4,000 pCi/L를 초과한 곳은 8개소로 전체 시료수의 20%이며, 이중 핀란드의 음용 제안치인 8,100 pCi/L를 초과하는 시료는 4개소이다. 연구지역에서 지질별 지하수의 우라늄과 라돈 농도는 화강암지역의 지하수에서 가장 높다. 연구지역 지하수의 우라늄과 라돈 함량은 유사한 지질을 가지는 외국에 비하면 낮은 것으로 나타났다. 이는 우리나라 농촌지역 지하수 관정의 특성상 케이싱 및 그라우팅이 미비한 관정이 많으므로 천부 지하수의 공내 유입을 의심할 수 있다.

Keywords

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Fig. 1. Location of groundwater samples and lithology map of the study area.

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Fig. 2. Relationship between EC and the cations Na(A), K(B), Ca(C), Mg(D), SiO2(F), and Ca-HCO3(E).

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Fig. 3. Relationship between EC and the anions Cl(A), SO4(B), and Na-Cl(C), Cl-NO3(D), Ca-F(E).

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Fig. 4. Histogram of uranium(A) and radon(B) contentrations in groundwater.

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Fig. 5. Relationship between uranium and radon in the Mungyeong area.

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Fig. 6. Relationship between U and pH(A), EC(B), Eh(C), DO(D), K(E), Na(F), Ca(G) and Mg(H).

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Fig. 7. Relationship between Rn and pH(A), EC(B), Eh(C), DO(D), K(E), Na(F), Ca(G) and Mg(H).

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Fig. 8. Box-and-whisker plots showing statistical variations of uranium(A) and radon(B) related to geology(Gr: Granite, Ls: Limestone, Sedi: Sedimentary rock).

Table 2. Statistical summary of uranium and radon concentrations in groundwater

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Table 3. Uranium and radon concentrations

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Table 1. Physiochemical properties of groundwater samples from Mungyeong area. Unit is mg/L unless noted otherwise

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