Naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) in the groundwater of two islands with various geologic settings in South Korea

Main Article Content

MoonSu Kim
Ikhyun Kim
Hyunkoo Kim
Hunje Jo
Sunhwa Park
Jongyeon Hwang
Dongsoo Kim
Seongjin Jo
Taeseung Kim
Hyenmi Cheong

Abstract

Since 2007, Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (NORM) such as uranium-238 and radon-222 etc. in groundwater from the Community Water-supply Systems (CWS) in two islands have been studied in South Korea. In 71 samples from Ganghwa (G) Island, the maximum value of uranium-238 concentration is 72.21 μg/L. 3 CWSs (4.2%) exceeded the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) of 30 μg/L for uranium-238. The maximum value of radon-222 activity is 614 Bq/L. 28 CWSs (39.4 %) did not meet the United States Environment Protection Agency (US EPA) proposed Alternative Maximum Contaminant Level (AMCL) of 148 Bq/L for radon-222. At all CWS that did not meet the US EPA’s MCL or AMCL, some appropriate actions were taken such as water treatment, alternative well development, mixing water of different origins, and so forth. In the 52 CWSs of Jeju (J) Island, the maximum value of uranium-238 and radon-222 concentrations are 1.37 μg/L and 94.83 Bq/L, respectively. All values for uranium-238, gross alpha, and radon-222 meet MCL and proposed AMCL of US EPA drinking water standard. The two islands have different geological settings that are believed to be the causes of the big differences in the NORM levels. Geologically an old island has much higher NORM values than a young island formed in the Quaternary Period due to hydrogeological factors such as recharge and infiltration rates of precipitation. The residence times in the aquifers for water-rock (mineral) interactions are very different from each other.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Article Details

Section
Original Scientific Papers

References

DAHLKAMP, F.J. (1993): Uranium ore deposits.– Springer Science & Business Media, 25–30. doi: 10.1007/978-3-662-02892-6

GREEMAN, D.J. (1992): The geochemistry of uranium, thorium, and radium in soils of the eastern United States.– Pennsylvania State Univ., Mont Alto, PA (United States), 225 p.

HAHN, P.B. & PIA, S.H. (1991): Determination of Radon in Drinking Water by Liquid Scintillation Counting. Method 913.– US EPA.

HAN RIVER FLOOD CONTROL OFFICE & KOREA WATER RESOURCES CORPORATION (2012): 2011 National Watershed Survey Statistics and Analysis Report, 65 p.

HWANG, J.H. & KIHM, Y.H. (2005): Geologic Report of The Ganghwa·Onsuri Sheet.– Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources, 1–46.

INTERA ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS, INC. (1983): Porosity, Permeability, and Their Relationship in Granite, Basalt, and Tuff, Accession DE83-011519, NTIS, Springfield, Virginia 22161.

KOREA LAND & HOUSING CORPORATION (2017): Statistics of Urban Plan, 51–80.

NATIONAL ACADEMY PRESS (1999): Risk Assessment of Radon in Drinking Water.– http://www.nap.edu/catalog/6287.html

NATIONAL GRONDWATER INFORMATION CENTER: Groundwater observation network.-Current status and observation graph of observation network. [online: http://www.gims.go.kr/natnObsvStts.do]

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ENVIRONMENTAL REASEARCH (2007): An investigation of natural radionuclide levels in groundwater (NIER No. 2007-87-943)

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ENVIRONMENTAL REASEARCH (2008): An investigation of natural radionuclide levels in groundwater(Ⅱ) (NIER No. 2008-67-1017)

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ENVIRONMENTAL REASEARCH (2009): An investigation of natural radionuclide levels in groundwater(Ⅲ) (NIER No. 2009-61-1117)

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ENVIRONMENTAL REASEARCH (2010): An Investigation on Natural Radioactivity Levels in Groundwater(‘10) (NIER No. 2010-47-1222)

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ENVIRONMENTAL REASEARCH (2011): Study on Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (N.O.R.M) in Groundwater in South Korea (‘11) (NIER-RP2011-1401)

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ENVIRONMENTAL REASEARCH (2012): Study on Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (N.O.R.M) in Groundwater in South Korea (‘12) (NIER-RP2012-196)

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ENVIRONMENTAL REASEARCH (2013): Study on Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (N.O.R.M) in Groundwater in South Korea (‘13) (NIER-RP2013-384)

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ENVIRONMENTAL REASEARCH (2014): Study on Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (N.O.R.M) in Groundwater in South Korea (‘14) (NIER-RP2014-383)

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ENVIRONMENTAL REASEARCH (2015): Study on Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (N.O.R.M) in Groundwater in South Korea (‘15) (NIER-RP2015-388)

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ENVIRONMENTAL REASEARCH (2016): Study on Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (N.O.R.M) in Groundwater in South Korea (‘16) (NIER-RP2016-324)

NELSON, D. (2002): Natural variations in the composition of groundwater. Drinking Water Program. Oregon Department of Human Services, Springfield, Oregon, 3.

PARK, K.H., LEE, B.J., KIM, J.C., CHO, D.L., LEE, S.R., CHOI, H.I., PARK, D.W., LEE, S.L., CHOI, Y.S., Yang, D.Y., KIM, J.Y., SEO, J.Y. & SHIN, H.M. (2000): Explanatory Note of The JEJU (BAEKADO, JINNAMPO) SHEET – Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources, 5–60.

PARK, K.H., SONG, K.Y., HWANG, J.H., LEE, B.J., CHO, D.L., KIM, J.C., CHO, B.W., KIM, Y.B., CHOI, P.Y., LEE, S.R. & CHOI, H.I. (1998): Geologic Report of The Cheju-Aewol Sheet – Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources, 1–290.

US EPA (1980): EPA Method 900.0. Gross Alpha and Gross Beta Radioactivity in Drinking Water in ‘‘Prescribed Procedures for Measurement of Radioactivity in Drinking Water’’, EPA–600/4–80–032.

US EPA (2000): National Primary Drinking Water Regulations; Radionuclides; Final Rule, 40 CFR Parts 9, 141, and 142. – Federal Register, Vol. 65, No. 236, 76708–76753.