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2019 Vol.29, Issue 4 Preview Page

Research Article

Hydrogeochemistry and Occurrences of Natural Radionuclides Uranium and Radon in Groundwater of Wonju Area

원주지역 지하수의 자연방사성물질 우라늄과 라돈의 산출 특성과 수리지화학

Byeongdae Lee1
,
Byung Uk Cho1
,
Hee Sun Moon2*
,
Jae Hong Hwang3
이 병대1
,
조 병욱1
,
문 희선2*
,
황 재홍3
1Principal Researcher, Groundwater Research Center, Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources
2Senior Researcher, Groundwater Research Center, Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources
3Principal Researcher, Geoscience Data Center, Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources
1한국지질자원연구원 지하수연구센터 책임연구원
2한국지질자원연구원 지하수연구센터 선임연구원
3한국지질자원연구원 지질자원데이터센터 책임연구원
*Corresponding Author
31 December 2019. pp. 495-508
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Abstract

We measured the concentrations of natural radionuclides (uranium and radon) and major elements in groundwater collected from forty wells located in Wonju area to investigate the hydrochemistry and the occurrence of these radionuclides. The range of electrical conductivity (EC) value in the study area was 73~400 µS/cm. In addition to the increase of EC value, the content of cations and anions also tends to increase. Uranium concentrations ranged from 0.06~50.5 µg/L (median value, 1.55 µg/L) and radon concentrations ranged from 67~8,410 pCi/L (median value, 1,915 pCi/L). Uranium concentrations in 3 well, 7.5% of the samples, exceeded 30 µg/L, the maximum contaminant level (MCL) proposed by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), based on the chemical toxicity of uranium. Radon concentrations in 9 wells, 22.5% of the samples, and 1 well, 2.2% of the samples, exceeded 4,000 pCi/L (AMCL of the US EPA) and 8,100 pCi/L (Finland’s guideline level), respectively. Concentrations of uranium and radon related to geology of the study area showd the highest values in groundwater of the biotite granite area. Uranium and radon contents in the groundwater are comparatively low compared to those in other countries with similar geological settings. It is likely that the measured value was lower than the actual content due to the inflow of shallow groundwater by the lack of casing and grouting.

Keywords
groundwater
uranium
radon
geology
well

원주지역 지하수의 수리지화학 및 자연방사성물질인 우라늄과 라돈의 산출특성을 규명하기 위하여 40개 관정을 대상으로 시료를 채취하고 분석하였다. 연구지역 지하수의 EC는 최소 73에서 최대 400 µS/cm (평균 212 µS/cm)의 범위를 나타내고 있으며, EC의 증가와 더불어 주요 용존 양이온과 음이온의 함량도 증가하는 경향을 나타낸다. 우라늄 농도는 0.06~50.5 µg/L (중앙값 1.55 µg/L)로 넓은 분포를 보여주고 있으며, 라돈은 67~8,410 pCi/L (중앙값 1,915 pCi/L)의 범위를 나타내고 있다. 우라늄 농도에서 미국 EPA MCL 30 µg/L를 초과한 곳은 3개소로 전체 시료수의 7.5%에 해당된다. 라돈의 경우, 미국 EPA AMCL(Alternative Mximum Contaminant Level) 4,000 pCi/L를 초과한 곳은 9개소로 전체 시료수의 22.5%이다. 이중 핀란드의 음용 제안치인 8,100 pCi/L를 초과하는 시료는 1개소이다. 연구지역에서 지질별 지하수의 우라늄과 라돈 농도는 흑운모화강암 지역의 지하수에서 가장 높다. 연구지역 지하수의 우라늄과 라돈 함량은 유사한 지질을 가지는 외국에 비하면 낮은 것으로 나타났다. 이는 우리나라 지하수 관정의 특성상 케이싱 및 그라우팅이 미비한 관정이 많으므로 천부 지하수의 공내 유입을 의심할 수 있다. 이러한 관정의 특성으로 인하여 실제 함량보다 낮게 검출되었을 가능성을 배제할 수 없다.

키워드
지하수
우라늄
라돈
지질
관정
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Information
  • Publisher :Korean Society of Engineering Geology
  • Publisher(Ko) :대한지질공학회
  • Journal Title :The Journal of Engineering Geology
  • Journal Title(Ko) :지질공학
  • Volume : 29
  • No :4
  • Pages :495-508
  • Received Date : 2019-11-15
  • Revised Date : 2019-12-12
  • Accepted Date : 2019-12-16
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.9720/kseg.2019.4.495
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