• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
• /
• v.37 no.3
• /
• pp.149-158
• /
• 2012

In this paper, we measured the variations of radon concentrations in groundwater using low-level Liquid Scintillation Counter (LSC), an instrument for analyzing the alpha and beta radionuclides at its 10 sites around the Kumjung-Gu, north-western of Busan. Optimization of Pulse Shape Analyzer (PSA) to determinate the highest value of figure of merit (FM) was decided using Quantulus 1200 LSC with radium-226 source, the optimal PSA level was shown in the range of 100 to 110. The results show that the Minimum Detectable Activity (MDA) of radon concentrations is 0.61 $Bq{\cdot}L^{-1}$ for 20 minutes in PSA level. We find that the average radon concentration in groundwater is high in granitic rock area and low in volcanic rock area. (Biotite granite : 191.39 $Bq{\cdot}L^{-1}$, Micro graphic granite : 141.88 $Bq{\cdot}L^{-1}$, Adamellite : 92.94 $Bq{\cdot}L^{-1}$, Andesite (volcanic) : 35.35 $Bq{\cdot}L^{-1}$). No significant seasonal variation pattern is observed from the long-term variation analysis from 10 selected sites. We have not seen the significant correlation of radon concentration to groundwater temperature, atmospheric temperature, atmospheric pressure and rainfall. The concentration variation is probably caused by more complex factors and processes.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.29 no.5
• /
• pp.589-595
• /
• 1996

The concentration of radioactive elements was measured from the groundwater samples of Taejeon Area. U and Rn concentrations of very high level were detected from many places, especially around Yusung. These levels are much higher than the concentration standards for the drinking water proposed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. However, in Korea, there are no standard levels for the radioactive elements in drinking water yet. We think that it is necessary to provide such standards as soon as possible, and that the determination of radioactive elements in groundwater should be included in the routine analysis items for the drinking water quality, because many people currently use such relatively high level radioactive groundwater as their drinking water, especially around Yusung area.

• Proceedings of the Korea Air Pollution Research Association Conference
• /
• 2003.11a
• /
• pp.529-530
• /
• 2003

우라늄(U-238)의 붕괴과정에서 생성되는 라돈(Rn-222)은 다른 물질과 화학적으로 결합 또는 부착하지 않는 불활성 기체이고 상대적으로 긴 반감기를 갖고 있기 때문에 충분한 시간 동안 공기중에 머물러 있으므로 다른 자연방사선원에 비하여 라돈과 라돈자손에 의한 일반인의 자연방사선피폭 기여도가 가장 높다(Jamil K. 1997). 이미 세계 여러 나라에서는 라돈피폭에 기인한 건강상의 위해를 인식하여 주택을 비롯한 여러 생활공간의 실내 및 음용수 중의 라돈농도에 대한 대규모적인 측정을 수행하고 있으며, 그 결과 미국 내 상당수의 주택이 미국 환경청에서 권고치(action level)로써 권고하고 있는 150 Bq/m3(실내공기중)와 11.100 Bq/m3(음용수중)응 초과하는 것으로 나타났다(U,S,EPA, 1992).(중략)

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.79-83
• /
• 1995

A number of investigators have reported formation of radiolytic ultrafine particles produced by the interaction of ionizing radiation with atmospheric trace gases. Previous studies have suggested that a very high localized concentration of the hydroxyl radical produced by the radiolysis of water can react with atmospheric trace gases such as $SO_2$ and produce lower vapor pressure compounds that can subsequently nucleate. To determine the trace gas and water vapor concentration dependence of the active, positively charged, first decayt product of radon (Po-218), a well-controlled radon chamber was used in this research. The mobility spectrum of the decay products in the range of $0.07-5.0cm^2/V\;sec$ from the radon chamber was measured using alpha track detector installed inside a specially-designed electrostatic spectrometer. Measurements were taken for different concentrations (0.5ppm to 5ppm) of $SO_2$ in Purified, Compressed air. A kinetics Study following the clustering of $SO_2$ around the $PoO_x^+$ ion in an excess of $SO_2$ for interpretation of the reaction processes was performed.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
• /
• v.3 no.4
• /
• pp.23-36
• /
• 2000

Bottom sea waters in eight stations including from inner bay to outer bay to understand the importance of the submarine groundwater discharge for the environmental assessment of Chinhae Bay was collected in August 1999 and January 2000. Generally, /sup 222/Rn is very useful tracer to assess the submarine groundwater discharge because it is 2-4 orders of magnitude more concentrated in groundwater compared to surface water. The /sup 222/Rn activities ranged between about 33 to 182 dpm/100kg within the bay. Higher activities more than 100 dpm/100kg were found at the inner bay. The /sup 226/Ra activities, its parent, however, were little different between stations. /sup 222/Rn activities at the same station varied with season. It suggests that the major source of /sup 222/Rn is not from the bottom sediment, but from the change of submarine groundwater discharge by precipitation. The contents of Cl/sup -/ and SO/sub 4//sup 2-/ in the groundwater of Wonjeon-ri were very high as 1,312 and 369 ppm, respectively, indicating that this groundwater along the Chinhae coast was affected by seawater. Therefore, the submarine groundwater in the inner Bay may discharge to the overlying water. It indicates that these submarine groundwater discharges may play an important role as another important source of nutrients in the Chinhae Bay, because groundwater around the Chinhae Bay showed high concentration of dissolved inorganic nutrients (average , nitrate>174 μM, silicate>262 μM). Therefore, further studies are required to assess the contribution by the submarine groundwater discharge in the biogeochemical processes of the Chinhae Bay.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.57-70
• /
• 1992

An excess risk of lung cancer mortality among Koreans, attributable to indoor $^{222}Rn$ daughters exposure, were quantitatively evaluated by applying a stochastic health risk projection model on the radiation exposure. The lung cancer rate in Korean males and females, based on the 1989 demographic data, were estimated to be $22.4/10^5-y\;and\;9.5/10^5-y$, respectively The lifetime baseline lung cancer risks, deduced from these rates, appeared to be 0.047 and 0.019 for males and females, respectively, and were lower than the corresponding 1984 values of 0.067 and 0.025 in the U.S.A. The excess risk coefficients, derived by modified relative risk projection model of the BEIR-IV Committee under the US National Academy of Science, per annual 1.0 WLM of exposure to indoor radon daughters were estimated to be 0.022/WLM for males, 0.009/WLM for females, and 0.017/WLM for both sexes. The resulting annual frequency of excess lung cancer mortality for the life expectancy in the Korean population appeared to be 230/10^6-WLM, which was an approximate median of $120{\sim}450/10^6-WLM$ reported so far in the world.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
• /
• v.16 no.6
• /
• pp.133-142
• /
• 2011

A total of 247 samples were collected from groundwater being used for drinking-water supply, and hydrogeochemistry and radionuclide analysis were performed. In-situ analysis of groundwaters resulted in ranges of $13.7{\sim}25.1^{\circ}C$ for temperature, 5.9~8.5 for pH, 33~591 mV for Eh, $66{\sim}820{\mu}S/cm$ for EC, and 0.2~9.4 mg/L for DO. Major cation and anion concentrations of groundwaters were in ranges of 0.5~227.6 for Na, 1.0~279.3 for Ca, 0.0~9.3 for K, 0.1~100.1 for Mg, 0.0~3.3 for F, 0.9~779.1 for Cl, 0.3~120.4 for $SO_4$, 0.0~27.4 for $NO_3$-N, and 6~372 mg/L for $HCO_3$. Uranium-238 and radon-222 concentrations were detected in ranges of N.D-$131.1{\mu}g/L$ and 18-15,953 pCi/L, respectively. In case of some groundwaters exceeding USEPA MCL level ($30{\mu}g/L$) for uranium concentration, their pH ranged from 6.8 to 8.0 and Eh showed a relatively low value(86~199 mV) compared to other areas. Most groundwaters belonged to Ca-(Na)-$HCO_3$ type, and groundwaters of metamorphic rock exhibited the highest concentration of Na, Mg, Ca, Cl, $NO_3$-N, U, and those of plutonic rock showed the highest concentration of $HCO_3$, and Rn. Uranium and fluoride from granite areas did not show any correlation. However, uranium and bicarbonate displayed a positive relation of some areas in plutonic rocks($R^2$=0.3896).

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

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
• /
• v.26 no.4
• /
• pp.531-549
• /
• 2016

The purpose of this study is to analyze the relationship of hydrochemistry, geology, fault with occurrence of uranium and radon-222 from the groundwater in the Yeongdong area. In this study, 49 groundwater and 4 surface water samples collected in the study area were collected on two separate occasions. The surface radioactivities were measured at 40 points to know the relationship between the occurrence of uranium in groundwater and surface geology. The chemical composition of groundwater showed three types : $Ca-HCO_3$, $Na-HCO_3$ and $Ca-HCO_3(SO_4,\;NO_3)$. Two groundwater of 49 samples exceeded the maximum contaminant levels of uranium, $30{\mu}g/L$, proposed by the Ministry of Environment of Korea and 11 groundwater of 40 samples for Rn-222 concentrations exceeded the 148 Bq/L maximum contaminant level of US EPA. Most of unsuitable groundwater are located in the geological boundary related with the biotite gneiss and the surface radioactivities of rock samples showed no relationship with groundwater geochemical constituents. The strike-slip fault, Youngdong fault, is $N45^{\circ}E$ direction and the high concentrations of uranium in upper part of fault, consisted of granite and granitic gneiss are detected but in lower part, consisted of metamorphic sedimentary rock are not detected. It suggests that the natural radioactive concentrations are related with the geologic characteristics and the migration and diffusion of natural radioactive materials are affected by the fault.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
• /
• v.8 no.4
• /
• pp.211-216
• /
• 2014

Radium is rock or soil of crust or uranium of building materials after radioactivity collapse process are created colorless and odorless inert gas that accrue well in sealed space like basement. It inflow to lung circulate respiratory organ and caused lung cancer because of deposition of lung or bronchial tubes. In this study, the air in the elementary school classroom nongdoeul tonkatsu place of measured values were compared using the calculated annual internal radiation exposure. La tonkatsu exposure measured in primary school classroom at least five schools when you close the windows in the average floor 0.56mSv 2 floors ground floor windows when opened 0.384mSv 048mSv 3 floors, 2 floor levels of the same three layers 0.31mSv 0.296mSv the human exposure to radon and radiation on the first floor of 3 floors above ground in a lot of exposure was moderate. When you close the window from the first floor up 0.384mSv 056mSv 3 floors with a minimum annual radiation exposure due to natural radiation in the 16 to 23.3 percent minimum 2.4mSv accounted for. When I opened the window to the maximum annual radiation exposure 2.4mSv 0.296mSv 0.31mSv least a minimum of 12.3 to 12.91% accounted for Results suggest that more than five chodeunghakgyoeun La tonkatsu domestic radon measurements conducted below regulatory requirements and internal exposure has also fall within the normal range. People The less the radiation exposure to the human body because it reduces the impact in the classroom in elementary school vent windows often reduced to the maximum radon concentration in the air, if called tonkatsu be able to reduce radiation exposure for the immune system is weak and elementary will be helpful to experiment more in the future for the school authorities called tonkatsu investigation is done to him if the action to establish a more secure school building facilities is thought would be helpful.