• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.418-423
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• 2016

Background: This work was to get information about $^{90}Sr$ contamination of the environment by using soil and moss from selected areas in Jeju Island, Korea. Materials and Methods: The activities of $^{90}Sr$ in soil and moss samples were investigated at nine locations of Jeju island, Korea. The soil samples have been collected at 4 sites of Jeju island during June to August of 2013, analyzed for vertical distribution of $^{90}Sr$ activities. The moss samples have been collected at 5 sites of Jeju island during November of 2011 to June of 2012, and analyzed for radioactive $^{90}Sr$. Results and Discussion: The $^{90}Sr$ vertical concentrations in the investigated soil samples were 2.77 to $18.24Bq{\cdot}kg^{-1}$ in eastern part, 1.69 to $18.27Bq{\cdot}kg^{-1}$ in northern part, 3.76 to $13.46Bq{\cdot}kg^{-1}$ in the western part and 1.09 to $8.70Bq{\cdot}kg^{-1}$ in the southern part of the Mt. Halla in Jeju island, respectively. Activities of $^{90}Sr$ show the highest value at the surface soil and decrease with depth. The activity concentration measured was in the range of 79.6 to $363Bq{\cdot}kg^{-1}$ -dry moss. Conclusion: This material is expected to be basis reference for survey of environmental radioactivity in Jeju Island.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.369-380
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• 2017

In order to manage the uncertainty about the evaluation and analysis of the human intrusion scenario of the Gyeongju Low and Intermediate Level Radioactive Waste(LILW) disposal facility, the calculation result by the GENII code was assessed using the RESRAD code, which was developed to evaluate the radiation effects of contaminated soil. The post-drilling scenario was selected as a human intrusion scenario into the near-surface disposal facility to analyze the uncertainty of the modeling by identifying any limitations in the simulation of each code and comparing the evaluation results under the same input data conditions. The results revealed a difference in the migration of some nuclides between the codes, but confirmed that the dose trends at the end of the post-closure control period were similar for all exposure pathways. Based on the results of the dose evaluation predicted by RESRAD, sensitivity analysis on the input factors was performed and major input factors were derived. The uncertainty of the modeling results and the input factors were analyzed and the reliability of the safety evaluation results was confirmed. The results of this study can be applied to the implementation 'Safety Case Program' for the Gyeongju LILW disposal facility.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.20-25
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• 2002

An accurate and simple analytical technique for $^{89}Sr$ and $^{90}Sr$, overcoming the demerits of the conventional method, has been developed with extraction chromatography and liquid scintillation counting. The Sr fraction was separated from hindrance elements with oxalate coprecipitation or cation exchange resin and purified with Sr-Spec column. With liquid scintillation counter, $^{89}Sr$ was measured by Cerenkov radiation method, and $^{90}Sr$ was measured by spectrum unfolding method. The developed radioactive strontium separation method was validated by application to the IAEA-reference material (IAEA-375, Soil) and radioactive waste samples.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.16-25
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• 2020

Background: To investigate radiological effects on biota, it is necessary to assess radiation dose for flora and fauna living in a terrestrial ecosystem. This paper presents a dynamic model to assess radioactivity concentration and radiation dose of terrestrial flora and fauna after a nuclear accident. Materials and Methods: Litter, organic soil, mineral soil, trees, wild crops, herbivores, omnivores, and carnivores are considered the major components of a terrestrial ecosystem. The model considers the physicochemical and biological processes of interception, weathering, decomposition of litter, percolation, root uptake, leaching, radioactive decay, and biological loss of animals. The predictive capability of the model was investigated by comparison of its predictions with field data for biota measured in the Fukushima forest area after the Fukushima nuclear accident. Results and Discussion: The predicted radioactive cesium inventories for trees agreed well with those for evergreens and deciduous trees sampled in the Fukushima area. The predicted temporal radioactivity concentrations for animals were within the range of the measured radioactivity concentrations of deer, wild boars, and black bears. The radiation dose for the animals were, for the whole simulation time, estimated to be much smaller than the lower limit (0.1 mGy·d^-1) of the derived consideration reference level given by the International Commission on Radiological Protection for terrestrial flora and fauna. This suggested that the radiation effect of the accident on the biota in the Fukushima forest would be insignificant. Conclusion: The present dynamic model can be used effectively to investigate the radiological risk to terrestrial ecosystems following a nuclear accident.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.261-276
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• 2016

The occurrence of natural radioactive materials such as uranium and radon-222 in groundwater was examined with hydrogeochemistry and geology at ○○ village in the Yongin area. Two rounds of 19 groundwater and 5 surface water sampling were collected for analysis. The range of pH value in groundwaters was 5.81 to 7.79 and the geochemical types of the groundwater were mostly Ca(Na)-HCO₃ and Ca(Na)-NO₃(Cl)-HCO₃. Uranium and radon-222 concentrations in the groundwater ranged from 0.06 to 411 μg/L and from 5.56 to 903 Bq/L, respectively. Two deep groundwaters used as common potable well-water sources exceeded the maximum contaminant levels of the uranium and radon-222 proposed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA). Three groundwater samples from residential areas contained unsuitable levels of uranium, and 12 groundwater samples were unsuitable due to radon-222 concentrations. Radioactive materials in the unsuitable groundwater are naturally occurring in a Jurassic amphibole- and biotite-bearing granitic gneiss. High uranium and radon-222 groundwater concentrations were only observed in two common wells; the others showed no relationship between bedrock geology and groundwater geochemical constituents. With such high concentrations of naturally occurring radioactive materials in groundwater, the affected areas may extend tens of meters for uranium and even farther for radon-222. Therefore, we suggest the radon-222 and the uranium did not originate from the same source. Based on the distribution of radon-222 in the study area, zones of higher radon-222 concentrations may be the result of diffusion through cracks, joint, or faults. Surface radioactivity and uranium concentrations in the groundwater show a positive relationship, and the impact areas may extend for ~200m beyond the well in the case of wells containing high concentrations of uranium. The highest uranium and thorium concentrations in rock samples were detected in thorite and monazite.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.36-45
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• 2013

We analyzed natural radionuclides in 80 wells in volcanic rock areas and investigated environmental characteristics. Uranium and radon concentrations ranged from ND to $9.70{\mu}g/L$ (median value: 0.21) ${\mu}g/L$, 38~29,222 pCi/L (median value: 579), respectively. In case of gross-${\alpha}$, 26 samples exceeded MDA (minimum detectable activity, < 0.9 pCi/L) value and the activity values ranged from 1.05 to 8.06 pCi/L. The radionuclides concentrations did not exceed USEPA MCL (maximum contaminant level) value of Uranium ($30{\mu}g/L$) and gross-${\alpha}$ (15 pCi/L). But Rn concentrations in 4 samples exceeded USEPA AMCL (Alternative maximum contaminant level, 4,000 pci/L) and one of them showed a significantly higher value (29,222 pCi/L) than the others. The levels of uranium concentrations in volcanic rock aquifer regions were detected in order of andesite, miscellaneous volcanic rocks, rhyolite, basalt aquifer regions. Radon, however, was detected in order of miscellaneous volcanic rocks, rhyolite, andesite, basalt aquifer regions. The correlation coefficient between uranium and radon was r = 0.45, but we found that correlations of radionuclides with in-situ data or major ions were weak or no significant. The correlation coefficient between the depth of wells and uranium concentrations was a slightly higher than that of depth of wells and radons. Radionuclide concentrations in volcanic rock aquifers showed lower levels than those of other rock aquifers such as granite, metamorphic rock aquifers, etc. This result may imply difference of host rock's bearing-radioactive-mineral contents among rock types of aquifers.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.279-291
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• 2009

Radon is a natural radionuclide originated from radioactive decay of radium in rocks and soil. It is colorless, odorless and tasteless elements that mainly distributed as gaseous phase in soil pore space. The present study analyzed the characteristics of long-term radon variation in granitic residual soil at Mt. Guemjeong in Guemjeong-gu, Busan and determined the effects of atmospheric temperature, rainfall and soil temperature and moisture. Periodic measurements of radon concentrations in soil gas were conducted by applying two types of in-situ monitoring methods (chamber system and tubing system). Radon concentration in soil gas was highest in summer and lowest in winter. The variations in soil temperature and atmospheric temperature were most effective factors in the long-term radon variations and showed positive co-relations. The air circulation between soil air and atmosphere by the temperature difference between soil and atmosphere was analyzed a major cause of the variation. However, other factors such as atmospheric pressure, rainfall and soil moisture were analyzed relatively less effective.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.632-638
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• 2006

There are numerous approaches available to cleanup a contaminated surface and subsurface ground currently in use, however, these methods all classify the decontamination after the contamination has penetrated into the soil masses and is costly. Unlike these approaches, in this study, utilization of soil's self-decontamination ability by rearranging and preplanning of the topographical features and surface and subsurface drainage systems for the potential contamination sites before or during contamination process has been considered as an another cleanup method. Step by step explanations on why and how to develop the self-decontamination procedure is proposed in detail. Two examples are presented including contaminated saltwater intrusion along a coastal region and control or prevention of radioactive toxic radon gas ($^{222}Rn$) in residential areas. The effectiveness of the proposed systems to these two examples using the soil's self-decontamination ability is well illustrated.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.55-62
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• 2013

Generally, the radioactivity from NPP(Nuclear Power Plants) operation can be released below 3% of DRLs(Derived Release Limits) to environment. It was tried to understand which plant was efficient for absorbing radioactivity in this study. Pinus thunbergii Parl. and Viburnum awabuki K. KOCH were analyzed for radioisotope absorption. The samples were collected at three different locations depending on the distance from NPP at the vicinity 10km away, and 30km away. Gamma radionuclide was not detected from the samples, which means that the direct transition into the plant was not significant. Meanwhile, the very low level of radioactive tritium was detected in the samples. One remark was that every plant has different ability for tritium absorption. These results are expected to be applied to propagation and transplanting in radioactively contaminated area or reducing radioactivity in the soil and water near the plants.

• Proceedings of the Korean Radioactive Waste Society Conference
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.48-53
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• 2003

The high temperature melting test for nonflammable wastes using a plasma torch was conducted. The AP-200L hollow cathode type plasma torch was installed at the pilot plasma melting furnace in NETEC. The surrogates were prepared to simulate concrete, soil and their mixture with steel. The experimental conditions such as feeding rate, the distance between melts surface and torch nozzle, torch rotation speed, gas flow rate and pressure in the furnace were decided. Basic parameters such as temperatures of cooling waters, off-gas and torch power were measured. The vitrified samples were analyzed by SEM/EDS.