• 한국지구물리탐사학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.501-503
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• 2003

Soil-gas radon level and other atmospheric factors have been measured at residual soil profiles that overlie granite bedrock which consists of major geology in Korea for 6 months from November, 2000 to April, 2001. Seasonal variations of soil-gas radon concentration are generally of greater magnitude than day-to-day fluctuations. The highest radon concentrations of 5,131 pCi/L measured during winter season and the lowest radon concentrations of 107 pCi/L during spring season. Two study areas, Bongcheon-dong(granite bedrock) and Seongnam-Yongin(gneiss bedrock) were investigated to assess the radon potential according to their field survey and emanation tests. The mean values of radon decrease in sequentially from Suji-A(813 pCi/L)>Suji-B(757 pCi/L)>Bundang-B(691 pCi/L)>Bundang-A(643 pCi/L)>Bongcheon-dong(513 pCi/L). Estimated soil-gas radon potential using maximum radon emanation ratios of each study area decreases in the order of Bongcheondong(950 pCi/L)>Suji-B(524 pCi/L)>Bundang-A(437 pCi/)>Bundang-B(259 pCi/L)>Suji-A(230 pCi/L) areas. The values of indoor radon and its daughter product concentrations in Bongcheon-dong area show that indoor basement rooms in poor ventilation condition could be classified as extremely high radon risk location of more than 4 pCi/L Rn and 0.02 WL.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.98-104
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• 2007

A survey was performed to evaluate the distribution of radon concentrations in groundwater of South Korea. Groundwaters of 615 wells were sampled for this study during the four years from 1999 to 2002. The results showed radon values ranging from 4 pCi/L to 40,010 pCi/L with a mean and a median of 1,862 pCi/L and 920 pCi/L, respectively. The samples were classified into five groups according to the rock types; granite, sedimentary rocks, metamorphic rocks, Ogcheon metamorphic rocks, and Cheju volcanics. Mean radon concentrations were highest (2,595 pCi/L) in granites and lowest (238 pCi/L) in Cheju volcanic rocks. The groundwaters generally showed the highest radon content (2,298 pCi/L) in the weathered and the fractured bedrock complex and the lowest level (672 pCi/L) in the alluvium. The results showed that the radon concentrations in South Korea are low relative to those reported from other countries. But further investigations are suggested to confirm our results.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.94-98
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• 2005

This study was carried out to provide radon concentration and exposure in building. The average radon concentrations of building was measured 1.37 pCi/L in basement, 0.95 pCi/L in 1st layer, 0.74 pCi/L in 2nd layer, 0.56 pCi/L in 3rd layer, and 0.4 pCi/L in 4th layer, respectively. The average radon concentration of basement was measured the higher than any other stairs. Daily average distribution of radon concentrations in building shown that radon concentrations measured in morning at 8hr was the highest value. Monthly average distribution of radon concentrations shown 0.28 ${\pm}$ 0.17 pCi/L in April and 0.82 pCi/L in December that was the highest value. The average concentrations of radon was measured 0.38pCi/L in spring. 0.44 pCi/L in summer, 0.53 pCi/L in autumn, and 0.67 pCi/L in winter, respectively. This result shown that the average concentrations of radon in winter was the higher than any other seasons. That reasons was supposed that effect of number of exchanges and using air conditions was the higher in summer than winter.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.17-22
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• 1982

Measurement of the radon concentration close to the ground surface can be used in search of environmental radiation for human safety, exploration for uranium, premonitory signals from earthquakes. We can detect radons in soil gas by alpha particle track method using the plastic track detectors, cellulose nitrate (LR115-Type 2 and CA80-15, Kodak $Path\'{e}$) and CR-39. For present works, radon cups having these detectors were made in our laboratory and their conversion factor was determined. A typical conversion factor was $1tr/cm^2{\cdot}30days=1.2{\times}10^{-2}pCi/l$. In the radon cups, some of $CaSO_4$ were used as desiccant for reducing the moisture effects on plastic track detectors. With these radon cups, underground radon concentrations of Kyungpook area were measured. Average radon concentration in Daegu from Jan. 1981 to Feb. 1982 was 39.7pCi/l. From Aug. 1981 to Feb. 1982, average radon concentrations of Daegu, Angang, Kyungju, Pohang, Chungha, and Andong were 31.8pCi/l, 124.5pCi/l, 127.0pCi/l, 79.1pCi/l, 144.4pCi/l, and 70.9pCi/l, respectively. The results were compared with the environmental radiation measured by TLD method.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.51-60
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• 1997

The high radon (Rn222) potentials of soil, groundwater, hotspring and indoor environments in the Taejon city area were delineated by use of an EDA RDA-200 radon detector. The U and Th contents were also analysed using a Multi Channel Analyzer to illustrate the sources of the radon potentials. The average U concentrations in Taejon vary according to the type of granites such as $4.14{\pm}2.36ppm$ in schistose granite (SG), $3.13{\pm}1.70ppm$ in biotite granite (BG) and $3.01{\pm}1.95ppm$ in two mica granite (TG). The U contents in the granites are closely related with the amounts of uraniferous minerals. However, the U contents in the soil are found to be $5.05{\pm}4.75ppm$ in TG, $4.07{\pm}1.69ppm$ in BG and $3.87{\pm}1.91ppm$ in SG which are mainly explained by the different cation exchange capacities (CEC) of the soils from various granites. The levels of soil radon are $552{\pm}656pCi/l$ in SG, in which levels at two locations exceed the level of 1,350 pCi/l established as guideline for follow-up action by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), $443{\pm}284pCi/l$ in TG and $224{\pm}115pCi/l$ in the BG. The soil radon concentrations are found to be proportional to the U content and hardness of the soils. The groundwater radon concentrations in the domestic wells of - 30~-100 m depth show that $6,907{\pm}4,665pCi/l$ in TG, $5,503{\pm}6,551pCi/l$ in SG and $2,104{\pm}1,157pCi/l$ in BG which are positively related with U contents in soils. The radon levels of six groundwater wells in TG and two in SG are greater than guideline for drinking water level, 10,000 pCi/l by EPA (1986). Average radon contents of hotsprings and public bathes in the TG area are $7,071{\pm}1,942pCi/l$ and $1,638{\pm}709pCi/l$, respectively, which are below the EPA standard for remedial action value of the 10,000 pCi/l. The mean indoor radon concentrations of the TG and SG areas are $1.60{\pm}1.20pCi/l$ and $1.60{\pm}0.70pCi/l$, respectively. The elevated indoor radon levels of 5.6 pCi/l and 6.7 pCi/l are found to be particularly in TG area, which exceeds 4 pCi/i guideline, correlating positively with the U contents in the soil and radon concentration in the groundwater.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.71-78
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• 2016

This study aimed to evaluate the occurrence of natural radionuclides in Korean groundwater. Groundwater radionuclide data for the period 2000-2011 were obtained from the National Institute of Environmental Research and published literature, classified into five groups according to host rock type, and used to construct detailed concentration maps. Radon, uranium, gross-α, and radium concentrations ranged from 0.4 to 64,688.0 pCi/L (mean: 4,907 pCi/L), 0 to 2,297 μg/L (mean: 27.5 μg/L), 0 to 312 pCi/L (mean: 3.9 pCi/L), and 0 to 17.4 pCi/L (mean: 0.2 pCi/L), respectively. Radon concentrations in 562 of a total 1,501 wells (i.e., 53.5%) exceeded 4,000 pCi/L, which is the acceptable contamination threshold established by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Uranium, gross-α, and radium concentrations exceeded the respective thresholds of 30 μg/L, 15 pCi/L, and 5 pCi/L in 121 of 1,031 wells (11.9%), 34 of 978 wells (3.5%), and 4 of 89 wells (4.5%), respectively. The mean radionuclide concentration in groundwaters hosted by igneous and metamorphic rocks was higher than that in groundwaters hosted by other rock types, such as volcanics, carbonates, and other sedimentary rocks. The correlations between individual radionuclides were weak or insignificant.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.215-222
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• 1998

The radon (Rn-222) potential of metropolitan subway stations and soils in Seoul city were delineated using alpha-track filter and EDA-200 radon detectors, respectively. The uranium (U) and thorium (Th) contents were also determined using a Multi Channel Analyzer to identify the sources of radon gas. The average U concentrations in Seoul varies according to basement rock types. For example, there is $9.40{\pm}10.11ppm$ in the Precambrian metasedimentary rock (PM), $9.08{\pm}2.85ppm$ in the Jurassic Kwanaksan granite (JK) and $4.94{\pm}1.43ppm$ in the Jurassic Seoul granite (JS). Uranium contents in soil samples are $10.30{\pm}4.74ppm$ in JK, $10.10{\pm}7.43ppm$ in PM and $6.69{\pm}3.95ppm$ in JS and these closely reflect the content of uraniferous minerals. The levels of soil radon are $604{\pm}273pCi/L$ in JK, $502{\pm}275$ in JS and $262{\pm}211pCi/L$ in PM. The soil radon concentrations are shown to reflect soil permeability and porosity rather than their U contents. The mean indoor radon contents in subway stations are $1.50{\pm}0.62pCi/L$ on the 4th line, $1.41{\pm}0.95pCi/L$ on the 3rd line, $0.84{\pm}0.13pCi/L$ on the 1st line and $0.80{\pm}0.25pCi/L$ on the 2nd line. The subway stations located in the JK have the highest average radon concentration with $2.04{\pm}0.65pCi/L$, where levels of $1.57{\pm}0.81pCi/L$ occur in the JS and $0.80{\pm}0.23pCi/L$ in the PM. The highest radon levels of 4.1 pCi/L occur mainly in Keongbokkung station on the 3rd line and these exceed 4 pCi/L of the US EPA action level.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 1990

Indoor radon concentrations were measured using Track-Etch detectors in four (Seoul., Songtan, Dogo, Kunsan) different geological areas in Korea during December 1988 - April 1989. Measurements involving 75 hdmes were made in different rooms of each home. The mean concentrations of indoor radon in the homes by area varied from 2.70 - 3.22 pCi/l. Indoor radon concentrations in rural areas were higher than the corresponding levels in urban areas. The mean radon concentrations in the basements were about 1.3 times higher than those levels measured in the first floor. The mean radon concentrations in the kitchen and bedroom were and 2.86 pCi/l 2.43 pCi/l, respectively, while the living room radon concentrations were 2.61 pCi/l. Energy-efficient homes have a living room level that is on the average 1.4 times higher than normally insulated conventional homes. Approximately 13% of the study homes exceeded 4 pCi/l of radon levels of the U.S. EPA's recommended limit. From these results, radon levels in the homes seemed to correlate strongly with house location relative to geologic formation.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.243-250
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• 1997

A relative-calibration-method of solid-state-track-detector for measurement of radon in air has been developed, and the concentration of radon in each room of a 15th-floor-apartment was measured by using the relative calibrated SSTD. There is a tendency to decrease the concentration of radon when the floor is higher, but the main factor to reduce the concentration of radon in room appeared to be ventilation rate. Average concentration of radon of the 15th-floor-apartment was $1.50{\pm}0.51pCi/l$, and the highest and the lowest concentration of radon were $2.68{\pm}0.32pCi/l$, $0.69{\pm}0.16pCi/l$ respectively.

• Journal of Environmental Policy
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.49-67
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• 2006

The radionuclides in drinking water have been regulated in many countries. In USA, the regulation has been revised for over 30 years since radionuclides have been regulated under Safe Drinking Water Act(SDWA) from 1974. Today, USEPA is finalizing maximum contaminant level goal(MCLG) of zero for radionuclides, maximum contaminant level(MCL) and alternative maximum contaminant level(AMCL) of 300pCi/L and 4,000pCi/L for radon respectively, MCLs of $30{\mu}g/L$ for uranium, and MCLs of 5pCi/L for combined radium 226 and 228. In Canada, Maximum Acceptable Concentration(MAC) value for uranium is $20{\mu}g/L$. WHO revised the guideline value of uranium and radon to $15{\mu}g/L$ and 100Bq/L in september 2004, respectively. On this survey, it has been found that international regulations for radionuclides in drinking water have been established and improved steadily on the knowledge basis from the past decades' studies.