Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Radiological and hydrochemical study of thermal and fresh groundwater samples of northern Euboea and Sperchios areas, Greece: insights into groundwater natural radioactivity and geology

  • Published:
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A radiological and hydrochemical study has been conducted on thermal and fresh groundwater samples of northern Euboea Island and eastern central Greece. Both areas are characterized by complex geology and are renowned since antiquity for their hot springs, that are exploited for therapeutic spa purposes until today. The aim of the study was to combine radiological and hydrochemical data in order to achieve a holistic water quality assessment with insights into the geology of the study areas. All samples were characterized with respect to their major and trace ion and element composition, as well as activity concentrations of 222Rn, 226Ra, 228Ra, 228Th, and 40K. The samples demonstrated elevated natural radioactivity and U concentrations, especially in some locations of the Kamena Vourla area, reaching 179 Bq/L 222Rn, 2.2 Bq/L 226Ra, 2.9 Bq/L 228Ra, and 17 μg/L U. The estimated circulation depth of thermal groundwater ranges between 250 m in central Greece and 1240 m in north Euboea study area, whereas the calculated water residence times range between 27 and 555 years. Our data suggest the possible presence of an unknown until know U-rich plutonic rock formation in Kamena Vourla area and immiscibility of the fresh and thermal groundwaters in the studied areas.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Angelopoulos, I., Mitropoulos, D., Perissoratis, C., Zimianitis, E. (1991). Pagasitikos sheet, 1: 200,000. Surficial sediment map of the Aegean Sea floor. I.G.M.E., Athens.

  • Asikainen, Μ. (1981). Radium content and the 226Ra/228Ra activity ratio in groundwater from bedrock. Geoch. et Cosmoch. Acta., 45, 1375–1381.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Athanasoulis, K., Bakalopoulos, P., Xenakis, M., Persianis, D., Taktikos, S. (2009). Periodical monitoring of the Greek hot springs. IGME, Athens (in Greek).

  • Athanasoulis, K., Vougioukalakis, G., Xenakis, M., Kavouri, K., Kanellopoulos, C., Christopoulou, M., Statha, F., Rigopoulos, P., Spagakos, N., Tsigkas, Th., Papadatou, M. (2016). Diachronic monitoring of hot springs and geothermal fields of Greece. I.G.M.E., Athens (in Greek).

  • Bettencourt, A. O. De, Teixeira, M. M. G. R., Faisco, M. C., Vleira, I. A. & Ferrardo, G. C. (1988). Natural radioactivity in Portuguese mineral waters. Radiation Protection Dosimetry, 24(1-4), 139–142.

  • Chatzis, M., Kavouridis, Th., Bakalopoulos, P., Xenakis, M. (2008). Investigation and determination of northern Euboea geothermal fields. IGME, Athens (in Greek).

  • Cherdyntsev, V. V. (1971). Uranium-234. Jerusalem, Israel program for scientific translations, 234 pp.

  • Clesceri, L., Greenberg, A., Eaton, A., 1989. Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater. 20th edition. APHA-AWWA-WEF, Washington, DC.

  • Danali, S., Margomenou, G., & Veldeki, K. (1986). The radioactivity of spas on the Greek Island Ikaria and influencing factor. Health Physics, 50, 509–513.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dotsika, E. (2015). H-O-C-S isotope and geochemical assessment of the geothermal area of Central Greece. Journal of Geochemical Exploration, 150, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gexplo.2014.11.008.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), (2000). National primary drinking groundwater regulations, radionuclides; 40 CFR parts 141 and 142. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, USA, 65, 21575–21628.

  • European Union (EU), (2001). Commission recommendation of 20th December 2001 on the protection of the public against exposure to radon in drinking groundwater. In Official Journal of the European Commission; 2001/982/Euratom. European Commission, Brussels, Belgium.

  • European Union (EU), (2013). Council directive 2013/59/Euratom of 5 December 2013 laying down basic safety standards for protection against the dangers arising from exposure to ionising radiation, and repealing directives 89/618/Euratom, 90/641/Euratom, 96/29/Euratom, 97/43/Euratom and 2003/122/Euratom. European Commission, Brussels, Belgium.

  • Florou, H. (1992). Natural and artificial radioactivity in marine ecosystems. Ph.D. thesis, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens (in Greece).

  • Florou, H., Trampidou, G., & Nicolaou, G. (2007). An assessment of the external radiological impact in areas of Greece with elevated natural radioactivity. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 93, 74–83.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Georgalas, G.C. (1938). Le volcan des ȋles Likhades et de Hagios Ioannis (Kammena Vourla). Proceedings of Academia Athinon, 13, 86–98.

  • Gkioni-Stavropoulou, G. (1998). Hydrogeological study of hot and mineral springs of Euboean—Maliac gulf. IGME, Athens (in Greek).

  • Innocenti, F., Agostini, S., Doglioni, C., Manetti, P., & Tonarini, S. (2010). Geodynamic evolution of the Aegean: constraints from the Plio-Pleistocene volcanism of the Volos–Evia area. Journal of the Geological Society, London, 167, 475–489.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), (1996). International basic safety standards for protection against ionizing radiation and for the safety of radiation sources. International Atomic Energy Agency, safety series 15, Vienna.

  • Isam, S. M. M., Pettersson, H. B. L., & Lund, E. (2002). Uranium and thorium-series radionuclides in drinking groundwater from drilled bedrock wells: correlation to geology and bedrock radioactivity and dose estimation. Radiation Protect. Dosimetry, 102(3), 249–258.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jia, G., & Torri, G. (2007). Estimation of radiation doses to members of the public in Italy from intakes of some important naturally occurring radionuclides (238U, 234U, 235U, 226Ra, 228Ra, 224Ra and 210Po) in drinking water. Applied Radiation and Isotopes, 65(7), 849–857.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jia, G., Torri, G., & Marco, L. (2009). Concentrations of 238U, 234U, 235U, 232Th, 230Th, 228Th, 226Ra, 228Ra, 224Ra, 210Pb, 210Pb and 212Pb in drinking groundwater in Italy: reconciling safety standards based on measurements of gross a and b. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 100, 941–949.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jolivet, L., Faccenna, C., Huet, B., Labrousse, L., Le Pourhiet, L., Lacombe, O., Lecomte, E., Burov, E., Denèle, Y., Brun, J.-P., Philippon, M., et al. (2013). Aegean tectonics: strain localisation, slab tearing and trench retreat. Tectonophysics, 597-598, 1–33.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kanellopoulos, C. (2011). Geochemical research on the distribution of metallic and other elements in the cold and hot groundwater, soils and plants in Fthiotida prefecture and N. Euboea. Environmental impact. Ph.D. Thesis, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, (in Greek with English abstract).

  • Kanellopoulos, C. and Mitropoulos, P. (2013). Geochemical effect of the rock chemistry and the anthropogenic activities on groundwater: the case of NW Euboea, Greece. Bull. Geol. Soc. Greece, XLVII/2, 942-952, DOI: https://doi.org/10.12681/bgsg.11134, 2017.

  • Kanellopoulos, C., Mitropoulos, P., Argyraki, A. (2014). Geochemical effect of ultrabasic ophiolitic rock chemistry and anthropogenic activities on groundwater contamination: The case of Atalanti area, Greece. Bul. Shk. Gjeol., Special Issue 2/2014, Proceed. 20th CBGA Congress, Tirana/Albania, 329–332.

  • Kanellopoulos, C., Argyraki, A., & Mitropoulos, P. (2015). Geochemistry of serpentine agricultural soil and associated groundwater chemistry and vegetation in the area of Atalanti, Greece. Journal of Geochemical Exploration, 158, 22–33.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kanellopoulos, C., Christopoulou, M., Xenakis, M., Vakalopoulos, P. (2016). Hydrochemical characteristics and geothermometry applications of hot groundwater in Edipsos area, NW Euboea (Evia), Greece. Greece. Bull. Geol. Soc. Greece, ISSN: 0438–9557, L, 720–729.

  • Kanellopoulos, C., Mitropoulos, P., Valsami-Jones, E., & Voudouris, P. (2017a). Fluid characteristics and mineralizing processes of an active low-sulfidation epithermal (geothermal) system of northern Euboea and eastern Central Greece. Journal of Geochemical Exploration, 179, 9–24. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gexplo.2017.05.003.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kanellopoulos, C., Stouraiti, C., Xenakis, M., Vakalopoulos, P., & Vougioukalakis, G. (2017b). The geothermal system of northern Euboea Island and eastern Sperchios areas, Greece: Geological characteristics and suggested direct use applications. 11th International Hydrogeological Congress of Greece, 2, 263–273.

    Google Scholar 

  • Karastathis, V. K., Papoulia, J., Di Fiore, B., Makris, J., Tsambas, A., Stampolidis, A., & Papadopoulos, G. A. (2011). Deep structure investigations of the geohot field of the north Euboean gulf, Greece, using 3-D local earthquake tomography and curie depth point analysis. Journal of Volcanology and Geohot Research, 206, 106–120. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2011.06.008.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Katsikatsos, G., Mettos, A., Vidakis, M. (1984). Geological map of Istiea, scale 1: 50,000. Institute of Geological and Mineral Exploration (I.G.M.E.), Athens.

  • Kendall, G. M., Fell, T. P., & Phipps, A. W. (1988). A model to evaluated doses from radon in drinking groundwater. Radiol. Prot. Bull., 97, 7–8.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kranis, H. (1999). Neotectonic activity of fault zones in central-eastern mainland Greece (Lokris). Ph.D. thesis, GAIA, no 10, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (in Greek).

  • Kranis, H. (2007). Neotectonic basin evolution in central-eastern mainland Greece. Βull. Geol. Soc. Greece, 40, 360–373.

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu, Y., Zhou, X., Deng, Z., Fang, B., Tsutomu, Y., Zhao, J., & Wang, X. (2015). Hydrochemical characteristics and genesis analysis of the Jifei hot spring in Yunnan, southwestern China. Geothermics, 53, 38–45.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lopez, R., Garcia-Talavera, M., Pardo, R., Deban, L., & Nalda, J. C. (2004). Natural radiation doses to the population in a granitic region in Spain. Rad. Prot. Dos., 111(1), 83–88.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Metaxas, A., Varvarousis, G., Karidakis, G. (2008). Geothermal study of Sperchios area. IGME, Athens (in Greek).

  • Mishra, U. (1990). Exposures due to high natural radiation background and radioactive springs around the world. Proceeding of International Conference on High Levels of Natural Radiation (ICHLNR), Ramsar, Iran.

  • Mountrakis, D. (1986). The Pelagonian zone in Greece: A polyphase deformed fragment of the Cimmerian continent and its role in the geotectonic evolution of the eastern Mediterranean. Journal of Geology, 94, 335–347.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oliveira, J., Mazzilli, B. P., Sampa, M. H. O., & Bambalas, E. (2001). Natural radionuclides in drinking groundwater supplies of Sao Paulo state Brazil and consequent population doses. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 53, 99–109.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Orfanos, G. and Sfetsos, K.S. (1975). Hydrogeological study of Kamena Vourla area, IGME, Athens (in Greek).

  • Pe-Piper, G. and Piper, D. (2002). The igneous rocks of Greece, the anatomy of an orogen, Gebruder Borntraeger, Berlin.

  • Scherreiks, R. (2000). Platform margin and oceanic sedimentation in a divergent and convergent plate setting (Jurassic, Pelagonian zone, NE Evvoia, Greece). International Journal of Earth Sciences, 89, 90–107.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sohrabi, M. (1990). Recent radiological studies of high background radiation areas of Ramsar. Proceeding of International Conference on High Levels of Natural Radiation (ICHLNR), Ramsar, Iran.

  • Trampidou, G. (2004). Radiological study in radioactive springs areas. Ph.D. thesis, University of Athens, Athens, Greece (in Greek).

  • United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR), (1993). Sources and effects of ionizing radiation. Report to the general assembly. United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation, United Nations, New York.

  • United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR), (2000). Sources and effects of ionizing radiation. Report to the general assembly. United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation, United Nations, New York.

  • United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR), (2008). Sources and effects of ionizing radiation. Report to the general assembly. United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation, United Nations, New York.

  • United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR), (1988). Sources and effects of ionizing radiation. Report to the general assembly. United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation, United Nations, New York.

  • Vakalopoulos, P., Metaxas, A., Xenakis, M. (2000). Research and evaluation of lignite resources in Euboea Island: northern Euboea basin. Report of IGME, p. 35 (in Greek).

  • Vavassis, I. (2001). Geology of the Pelagonian zone in northern Evia Island (Greece): implications for the geodynamic evolution of the Hellenides. These de doctorat, Univ. de Lausanne, Switzerland.

  • Walencik, B., Kozlowska, J., Dorda, W., & Zipper, W. (2010). Natural radioactivity in underground groundwater from the outer Carpathians in Poland with the use of nuclear spectrometry techniques. Appl. Radiat. Isotopes, 68, 839–843.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wallström, M. (2001). Commission Recommendation of 20 December 2001 on the protection of the public against exposure to radon in drinking groundwater supplies. 2001/928/EURATOM (DOCE L 344/85 of 28/12/01, Brussels).

  • Wang, J., Jin, M., Jia, B., & Kang, F. (2015). Hydrochemical characteristics and geothermometry applications of thermal groundwater in northern Jinan, Shandong, China. Geothermics, 57, 185–195.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • World Health Organization (WHO), (2002). Guidelines for drinking groundwater quality: radiological aspects. World Health Organization, available in www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/GDWQ/Radio/radioasp.htm.

  • World Health Organization (WHO), (2011). Guidelines for drinking-water quality, fourth edition. World Health Organization, Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data.

  • Zhou, Q., Birkholzer, J. T., Tsang, C. F., & Rutqvist, J. (2008). A method for quick assessment of CO2 storage capacity in closed and semi-closed saline formations. International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, 2(4), 626–639.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the local population for their co-operation during the field work. The two anonymous reviewers are thanked for their comments and suggestions that greatly improved the manuscript.

Funding

This research was supported by the “Kapodistrias” research funding program of National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and by the Earthquake Planning and Protection Organization (EPPO) of Greece.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology and Geoenvironment, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, Ano Ilissia, 15784, Athens, Greece

    C Kanellopoulos, P Mitropoulos & A Argyraki

Authors
  1. C Kanellopoulos
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. P Mitropoulos
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. A Argyraki
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to C Kanellopoulos.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Kanellopoulos, C., Mitropoulos, P. & Argyraki, A. Radiological and hydrochemical study of thermal and fresh groundwater samples of northern Euboea and Sperchios areas, Greece: insights into groundwater natural radioactivity and geology. Environ Monit Assess 190, 265 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-018-6643-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-018-6643-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation