• 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.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
• /
• v.24 no.4
• /
• pp.535-550
• /
• 2014

The origins and varieties of natural radioactive materials, including uranium and radon-222, were examined in a drilled borehole extending to a depth of 120 m below the surface in the Goesan area. In addition to core samples, eight groundwater samples were collected at different depths, using a double packer system and bailer, and their geochemical characteristics were determined. Most of the rock samples from the drilled core consisted of granite porphyry, with sedimentary rocks (slate, carbonate, or lime-silicates) and pegmatite occurring in certain sections. The pH of samples varied from 7.8 to 8.4, and the groundwater was of a Na-$HCO_3$type. Uranium and thorium concentrations in the core were < 0.2-14.8 ppm and 0.56-45.0 ppm, respectively. Observations by microscope and an electron probe microanalyzer (EPMA) showed that the mineral containing the natural radioactive materials was monazite contained in biotite crystals. The uranium, which substituted for major elements in the monazite, appeared to have dissolved and been released into the groundwater in a shear zone. Concentrations of Radon-222 in the borehole showed no close relationship with levels of uranium. The isotopes of noble gases, such as helium and neon, would be useful for analyzing the origins and characteristics of the natural radioactive materials.

• Progress in Medical Physics
• /
• v.13 no.1
• /
• pp.51-53
• /
• 2002

The results of the measured specific activities of Rn-222 in sewerage and drinking water of Ulaanbaatar City, Mongolia using the HP-Ge gamma-spectrometer, solid state nuclear track detector and liquid scintillator, are compared. The specific radioactivity for the Rn-222 in water of Ulaanbaatar City ranged 10-250 Bk/l, with an average of 110 Bk/l.

• Analytical Science and Technology
• /
• v.12 no.5
• /
• pp.428-435
• /
• 1999

A method for measuring Rn-222 and Ra-226 in aqueous sample using liquid scintillation counting technique has been studied. The Rn-222 was extracted easily from the water sample (10 mL) by 12 mL of xylene based organic scintillant. After radioactive equilibrium between Rn-222 and its alpha emitting decay products for three hours, the alpha activity from Rn-222 and its decay products were measured in a scintillation vial using the Wallae $1220^{TM}$ Quantulus liquid scintillation counter. Ra-226 concentration in aqueous sample was determined, after isolation of Ra-226 from the sample matrix, by extraction the ingrowth of the Rn-222 and its alpha emitting decay products with xylene based organic scintillant. The optimum pulse-shape analysis (PSA) value was evaluated by the figure of merit (FM) criterion. Minimum detectable activity (MDA) is about 0.14 Bq/L (3.78 pCi) for the region of Rn-222 and its alpha emitting decay products and 0.06 Bq/L (1.63 pCi) for the region of Po-214 respectively, with 200 min, counting time at PSA level 100 in the low-diffusion polyethylene vial and xylene based cocktail solution. Experiment on the optimum sample-cocktail volume ratio, the influence of agitation and the diffusion of radon from vial were carried out.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.45 no.3
• /
• pp.277-294
• /
• 2012

The characteristics of temporal spacial radon variation in soil according to parent rock type and affecting factors were studied in Busan, Korea. The concentration of $^{222}Rn$ in soils and their parent elements ($^{226}Ra$,$^{228}Ra$, U and Th) in rocks and soils were measured at 24 sites in Busan area. The distribution and transportation behavior of these parent elements were analyzed and their correlations to radon concentration in soil were determined. Topographic effects were also evaluated. Two in-situ radon measurement (soil probe and buried tube) methods were applied to measure radon concentration in soil and their accuracies were evaluated. The spatial variation of radon in soil generally reflected U concentration in the parent rock. Average radon concentrations were higher in plutonic rocks than in volcanic rocks and were decreased in the order of felsic>intermediate>mafic rock. However, the radon concentrations were significantly varied in soils developed from same parent rocks due to the disequilibrium of U and $^{226}Ra$ between rock and soil. As results, the correlation of these element concentrations between rocks and soils was very low and radon concentrations in soils had highly co-related to the concentrations of these elements in soils. Th and $^{228}Ra$ show complex enrichment characteristics, differing significantly with U, in soils developed from same parent rock because the geochemical behavior of these elements during weathering and soil developing process was different with U. The radon concentrations in the same depth of soil in slope area were also different according to positions. The radon concentrations in soils developed from same parent rocks (19 sites at Pusan National University) varied 6.8~29.8Bq/L range because of small scale topographic variation. The opposite seasonal variation pattern of radon were observed according to soil properties. It was determined that buried tube method is more accurate method than soil probe method and was very advantageous application for the analysis for the characteristics of temporal spacial radon variation in soil.

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

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.10-17
• /
• 1989

A study for the assessment of dose given by outdoor radon to respiratory system has been carried out by making use of radon-cups containing CR-39 plastic track detectors. Detection efficiencies were determined by irradiation of the radon-cups in a standard radon chamber of known concentration. Thus determined detection factors of CR-39 plastic track detector in bare, open cup and filtered cup geometry are found to be 0.273, 0.0813 and 0.0371 $trmm^{-2}$/(37$Bqm^{-3}{\cdot}d$), respectively, which are chemically etched in 30% NaOH solution of $70^{\circ}C$ for 220 minutes. The outdoor radon concentrations measured at Taejeon(Chungnam National University) from May 1988 to March 1989 are in the range of 27.4 - 135.8 Bq/$m^3$(0.74 - 3.67pCi/l)by open cup and 16.7 - 143.9 Bq/$m^3$(0.45 - 3.89 pCi/l) by filtered cup, which yield overall annual average value of outdoor radon concentration of $70.8Bq/m^3$(1.91 pCi/l). Corresponding effective dose equivalent rate to respiratory system of ICRP standard man is assessed to be 520 nSv /h.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
• /
• 1991.07a
• /
• pp.753-756
• /
• 1991

This paper aimed to analyse dose sensitivity to the controllable parameters of in-door radon $(^{222}Rn)$ and its decay products(Rn-D) by applying the input-output linear system theory. Physical behaviors of $^{222}Rn$ & Rn-D were analyzed in terms of $^{222}Rn$ gas generation, -migation and - infiltration to indoor environments, and the performance output-function(i.e. mean dose equivalent to Tracho-Bronchial(TB) lung region was assessed to the following ranges of the controllable parameters; a) the ventilation rate constant $({\lambda}_v)$ : $0{\sun}500[h^{-1}]$. b) the attachment rate constant$({\lambda}_a)$ : 0-500 $[h^{-1}]$. c) deposition rate constant $({\lambda}{_{d}^{u}})$: 0-50$[h^{-1}]$. A linear input-output model was reconstructed from the original models in literatures, as follows, which was modified into the matrices consisting of 111 nodal equations. a) indoor ${222}Rn$ & Rn-D Behaviour: jacobi- Porstendorfer- Bruno model. b) lung dosimerty : Jacobi-Eisfeld model. Some of the major findings, which identify the effectiveness of this model, were as follows. a) ${\lambda}_v$ is most effective, dominant controllable parameters in dose reduction, if mechanical ventilation is applied. b) ${\lambda}_v$, depending on the air particle-concentration, reduces the dose somewhat within ${\lambda}_v$<1 $h^{-1}R range. However, the dose increases conversely, ${\lambda}_v$>1 $h^{-1}R range range. c) ${\lambda}{_{d}^{4}}$ reduces the dose linearly as ${\lambda}_v$ dose. Such dose(z-axis) sentivities are shown with three-dimensional plots whoes x,y-axes are combined 2out the 3 parameter${\lambda}_v{\lambda}_s,\;{\lambda}_d^s$.

• Analytical Science and Technology
• /
• v.35 no.1
• /
• pp.32-40
• /
• 2022

The concentrations of radon in the atmosphere were measured at the Gosan site of Jeju Island during 2017-2018, in order to investigate the time-series variation characteristics and the dependency of airflow transport pathways. The mean ²²²Rn concentration was 2,480 mBq m^-3, and its monthly concentration in November was 3,262 mBq m^-3, more than twice as that in July (1,459 mBq m^-3). The diurnal radon concentrations increased throughout the nighttime to the maximum (2,862 mBq m^-3) at around 7 a.m., then gradually decreased throughout the daytime by the minimum (1,997 mBq m^-3) at around 3 p.m. The seasonal and monthly variations of CO, NO₂, O₃ showed a roughly similar pattern to that of radon for the same period, as high in winter and low in summer. The cluster back trajectory analysis described that about 60 % of overall airflow pathways was influenced by the airflow from China. The concentrations of radon and gaseous pollutants were relatively high as the airflow was influenced by China continent, but comparatively much lower as influenced by the northern Pacific Ocean.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
• /
• 2005.10a
• /
• pp.220-221
• /
• 2005