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Spatial relationships between radon and topographical, geological, and geochemical factors and their relevance in all of South Korea

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze relationships between radon (Rn) in groundwater and related topographical, geological, and geochemical factors using probabilistic methods in a geographic information system (GIS) environment. A variety of geological and geochemical spatial data were compiled and evaluated for all of South Korea. A spatial database containing information on Rn/U, geology, and geochemistry was constructed for the study area using a GIS. Factors related to the 3,827 Rn occurrences in groundwater were compared with topographical variables such as elevation and slope, geological factors such as lithology, and geochemical measurements such as electric conductivity (EC), oxidation–reduction potential (Eh) carbonate (HCO3), silica (SiO2), sodium (Na), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), strontium (Sr), sulfate (SO4), nitrate (NO3), and fluoride (F). Through the use of this spatial database, relationships between areas of Rn exposure and 14 related factors were identified and quantified using probabilistic and statistical modeling (frequency ratios and logistic regression). The results showed that levels of Rn were correlated with topography and main hydrogeological components, specifically elevation, slope, geology, EC, Eh, HCO3, SiO2, Na, K, Mg, Sr, SO4, NO3, and F, consistent with the results of water–rock interactions in granitic rock formations. The relationship between Rn and U provides clear indication of a geogenic source of radionuclides in the groundwater of granitic rocks in South Korea. These results can be used to map Rn hazards, and the map can be used to provide basic information for environmental management.

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Abbreviations

Al:

Aluminum

Bq/L:

Becquerel per liter

EC:

Electric conductivity

Eh:

Oxidation–reduction potential

EPMA:

Electron probe microanalyzer

F:

Fluoride

Fe:

Iron

HCO3 :

Bicarbonate

K:

Potassium

Mg:

Magnesium

Na:

Sodium

NO3 :

Nitrate

pCi/L:

Picocuries per liter

pH:

Negative logarithm of the hydrogen ion concentration

Rn:

Radon

Ra:

Radium

SiO2 :

Silica

SO4 :

Sulfate

Sr:

Strontium

Th:

Thorium

U:

Uranium

Y:

Yttrium

Zr:

Zirconium

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the Project (NIER-SP2013-416) of the National Institute of Environmental Research (NIER) and the Basic Research Project of the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM) funded by the Minister of Science, ICT and Future Planning of Korea.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Earth Environmental Division, Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM), 124 Gwahang-no, Yuseong-Gu, Daejeon, 305-350, Republic of Korea

    Byong-Wook Cho & Uk Yun

  2. Geology Department, Kyungpook National University, 1370 Sangyeok-dong, Buk-gu, Daegu, 702-701, Republic of Korea

    Chang Oh Choo

  3. Soil and Groundwater Research Division, National Institute of Environmental Research (NIER), Hwangyeong-ro, 42, Seo-Gu, Incheon Metropolitan, Republic of Korea

    Moon Su Kim

  4. Geological Research Division, Korea Institute of Geoscience & Mineral Resources (KIGAM), 124 12 Gwahang-no, Yuseong-Gu, Daejeon, 305-350, Republic of Korea

    Jaehong Hwang & Saro Lee

  5. Korea University of Science and Technology, 217 Gajeong-ro, Yuseong-Gu, Daejeon, 305-350, Republic of Korea

    Saro Lee

Authors
  1. Byong-Wook Cho
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  2. Chang Oh Choo
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  3. Moon Su Kim
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  4. Jaehong Hwang
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  5. Uk Yun
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  6. Saro Lee
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Correspondence to Saro Lee.

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Cho, BW., Choo, C.O., Kim, M.S. et al. Spatial relationships between radon and topographical, geological, and geochemical factors and their relevance in all of South Korea. Environ Earth Sci 74, 5155–5168 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-015-4526-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-015-4526-0

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