Large quantities of microplastics are thought to be emitted to freshwater environments via wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). To evaluate the occurrence of microplastics in Korean WWTPs, a nationwide study was conducted for the first time in 50 representative WWTPs with large treatment capacities. Grab sampling and laboratory filtration were used for influents, whereas in situ filtration using a custom-made sampling device was used for effluents. The filtrates were pretreated using wet peroxidation and density separation prior to the identification of microplastics with a dissection microscope and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Pooled analyses of the microplastics revealed that they were predominantly fragment-shaped, and thermoplastics and synthetic fibers were the dominant microplastic materials in WWTPs. The concentration ranged from 10 to 470 L–1 in influents and 0.004 to 0.51 L–1 in effluents. The removal efficiency of microplastics during wastewater treatment was calculated to be 98.7–99.99% in 31 WWTPs. Additionally, WWTPs using advanced phosphorus removal processes exhibited higher removal efficiency than those not implementing such processes. Power-law distribution was successful in describing microplastic particle sizes down to 100 μm, although it was not applicable for smaller particles. This comprehensive monitoring study provides information on the current level and characteristics of microplastics in WWTPs in Korea.

This study has investigated naturally occurring radioactive materials (N.O.R.M; 238 U, 222 Rn) for 353 drinking groundwater wells in metamorphic rock areas in Korea. Uranium concentrations ranged from N.D (not detected) to 563.56 µg/L (median value, 0.68 µg/L) and radon concentrations ranged from 108 to 11,612 pCi/L (median value, 1,400 pCi/L). Uranium and radon concentrations in the groundwater generally are similar to USA with similar geological setting. Uranium concentrations in 9 wells (2.6%) exceeded 30 µg/L, which is the maximum contaminant level (MCL) by the US environmental protection agency (EPA), radon concentrations in 46 wells (13%) exceeded 4,000 pCi/L, which is the Alternative MCL (AMCL) by the US.EPA. The log-log correlation coefficient between uranium and radon was 0.32. The correlation coefficient between uranium and pH was 0.12 and the correlation coefficient between radon and temperature was −0.01. The correlation coefficient between uranium and HCO 3 was 0.09 and the correlation coefficient between uranium and Ca was 0.11. The median value of uranium was high Chung-Buk (1.78 µg/L), Gyeong-Buk (1.37 µg/L), In-Cheon (1.06 µg/L) for each province. On the other hand, the median value of radon was high In-Cheon (2,962 pCi/L), Chung-Buk (2,339 pCi/L), Jeon-Buk (2,165 pCi/L) for each province. Jeon-Buk for log-log correlation coefficient is the highest (0.63) among provinces.

In order to figure out the characteristics of radionuclides concentrations of nine provinces, we analyzed uranium and radon in 681 samples of groundwater. Most of uranium concentrations in each province were less than 10 µg/L, and Gyeongnam, Jeonnam, Jeju provinces did not have groundwaters exceeding the US EPA drinking water MCL (30µg/L) of uranium. The ratio of radon values exceeding US EPA drinking water AMCL (4,000 pCi/L) was 22.6% (154/681) and Gyeongnam and Jeju provinces had no groundwaters exceeding the AMCL (alternative maximum contaminant level). Uranium and radon concentrations in groundwaters of Gyeonggi, Chungbuk, Jeonbuk, Chungnam mainly composed of the Mesozoic granite and the Precambrian gneiss were relatively high, but the concentrations of Gyeongnam and Jeju widely comprised of the sedimentary rock and the volcanic rock were relatively low. A week correlation between uranium and radon values showed in Gangwon, Chungbuk, Gyeonggi provinces.

Groundwaters were sampled from 730 wells being used for drinking purposes during [2007][2008][2009]. These samples were analysed using a gas-flow type GPC (Gas Proportional Counter) according to the USEPA method (900.0). We obtained a gross-alpha counting TDS (total dissolved solid) efficiency curve (Y = 0.0017X2 − 0.3122X + 19.165, X = TDS, Y = efficiency, R 2 = 0.9734) using natural uranium standard to get gross α value of the samples. The gross alpha values ranged from MDA (minimum detectable activity) to 14.88 pCi/L and 429 samples showed values higher than MDA (< 0.9 pCi/ L). Correlations of the uranium values with the total alpha values and the gross-alpha values indicate that uranium values have high impacts on gross-alpha values. Groundwater samples of study areas were classified into four regions according to the rock types; plutonic (granite) rock region (427 areas), metamorphic rock region (181 aeras), sedimentary rock region (70 areas), volcanic rock region (52 areas). Groundwater of Cretaceous granite presented the highest gross-alpha value. Gross alpha in groundwaters showed no relationship with uranium in terms of the geological ages, rocks and minerals.

In order to study gross alpha analysis method using LSC, the efficiency tests with uranium standard materials were performed and then compared with the GPC method (US EPA 900.0 method) using 15 groundwater samples. For 15 groundwater samples, the average efficiencies of the GPC and LSC method were 7~11% and 90%, respectively. The average precisions of the GPC and LSC method were 16.16% and 6.00%, respectively. Also, The average standard deviations for 15 samples were 7.38 pCi/L and 2.95 pCi/L, respectively. The determination coefficient of the tested results by two methods was 0.9948. As a result, the LSC method tested in this study was applicable for the screening of the gross alpha and showed the advantages in the gross alpha measurement due to the simple measurement procedures.