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http://dx.doi.org/10.9720/kseg.2019.4.495

Hydrogeochemistry and Occurrences of Natural Radionuclides Uranium and Radon in Groundwater of Wonju Area  

Lee, Byeongdae (Groundwater Research Center, Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources)
Cho, Byung Uk (Groundwater Research Center, Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources)
Moon, Hee Sun (Groundwater Research Center, Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources)
Hwang, Jae Hong (Geoscience Data Center, Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources)
Publication Information
The Journal of Engineering Geology / v.29, no.4, 2019 , pp. 495-508 More about this Journal
Abstract
We measured the concentrations of natural radionuclides (uranium and radon) and major elements in groundwater collected from forty wells located in Wonju area to investigate the hydrochemistry and the occurrence of these radionuclides. The range of electrical conductivity (EC) value in the study area was 73~400 μS/cm. In addition to the increase of EC value, the content of cations and anions also tends to increase. Uranium concentrations ranged from 0.06~50.5 ㎍/L (median value, 1.55 ㎍/L) and radon concentrations ranged from 67~8,410 pCi/L (median value, 1,915 pCi/L). Uranium concentrations in 3 well, 7.5% of the samples, exceeded 30 ㎍/L, the maximum contaminant level (MCL) proposed by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), based on the chemical toxicity of uranium. Radon concentrations in 9 wells, 22.5% of the samples, and 1 well, 2.2% of the samples, exceeded 4,000 pCi/L (AMCL of the US EPA) and 8,100 pCi/L (Finland's guideline level), respectively. Concentrations of uranium and radon related to geology of the study area showd the highest values in groundwater of the biotite granite area. Uranium and radon contents in the groundwater are comparatively low compared to those in 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.
Keywords
groundwater; uranium; radon; geology; well;
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Times Cited By KSCI : 5  (Citation Analysis)
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