Accumulation and Risk of Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (NORMs)in the Filters Used in Bottled Mineral-Water Facilities
Abstract
Groundwater contains naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORMs) through water rock interactions. Although few studies reported the accumulation of NORMs in sediments and sludge of water treatment systems, the concentration processes of NORMs to the filters utilizing in the bottled mineral-water facilities and their risk were rarely studied. The goal of this study is to determine the accumulation mechanisms of NORMs in the filters, and evaluate the radiological risk for workers' health.
The radioactivity of NORMs in water and filter samples was determined in a total of five bottled mineral-water facilities of Korea. The level of Rn-222 decreased dramatically at the first filters after passing a raw-water storage tank, and surface radiation sharply increased at the identical filters. Short-lived radon progenies such as Pb-214 and Bi-214, and long-lived radionuclides including Pb-210 and Po-210 were simultaneously observed. The radon progenies were newly generated during the water treatment processes, while the long-lived radionuclides could be associated with fouling phenomena of groundwater (ultra)fine particles into filters. The elevated surface radioactivity of the first filters predominantly affected by the radon progenies. Although the radiological risk of NORM-concentrated filters seems to be low for routine work in the studied bottled water facilities, it is necessary to reduce the radioactivity exposure opportunities for the plant workers through improvement of water purifying processes and operating procedures.- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2019
- Bibcode:
- 2019AGUFMGH23B1226C
- Keywords:
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- 0240 Public health;
- GEOHEALTH;
- 1831 Groundwater quality;
- HYDROLOGY;
- 1847 Modeling;
- HYDROLOGY;
- 1880 Water management;
- HYDROLOGY