Gross-beta activity in ground water: natural sources and artifacts of sampling and laboratory analysis

Welch, Alan H.; Szabó, Zoltán; Parkhurst, David L.; Metre, Peter C. Van; Mullin, Ann H.

doi:10.1016/0883-2927(95)00020-8

Cited by 13 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…The maximum gross beta-particle activity 72 h after sample collection was 1.76 Bq L À1 in filtered untreated water from the KirkwoodeCohansey aquifer system. Both 228 Ra and 40 K contribute substantially to the beta-particle activity of water from the southern New Jersey aquifer systems (Welch et al, 1995).…”

Section: Ra Concentrations and Radioactivity In Untreated Ground Watermentioning

confidence: 99%

Concentrations and environmental fate of Ra in cation-exchange regeneration brine waste disposed to septic tanks and accumulation in sludge, New Jersey Coastal Plain, USA

Szabó

Jacobsen

Kræmer

et al. 2008

Journal of Environmental Radioactivity

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Section: Ra Concentrations and Radioactivity In Untreated Ground Watermentioning

confidence: 99%

Concentrations and environmental fate of Ra in cation-exchange regeneration brine waste disposed to septic tanks and accumulation in sludge, New Jersey Coastal Plain, USA

Szabó

Jacobsen

Kræmer

et al. 2008

Journal of Environmental Radioactivity

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“…210 Pb and 210 Po have among the highest unit risk levels for naturally occurring radionuclides (as calculated by both the U.S. EPA and the World Health Organization). , The U.S. EPA listed 210 Pb and 210 Po under the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule − and for 210 Po in alluvial aquifers derived from granites, and in coastal aquifers (semiconsolidated sediments). − Neither radionuclide, however, has been systematically assessed in source waters from principal aquifers (PAs) across the USA. A lack of occurrence data is one reason that maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) have not been established for 210 Pb and 210 Po .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Occurrence and Geochemistry of Lead-210 and Polonium-210 Radionuclides in Public-Drinking-Water Supplies from Principal Aquifers of the United States

Szabó

Stackelberg

Cravotta

2020

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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On the basis of lifetime cancer risks, lead-210 (210Pb) and polonium-210 (210Po) ≥ 1.0 and 0.7 pCi/L (picocuries per liter), respectively, in drinking-water supplies may pose human-health concerns. 210Pb and 210Po were detected at concentrations greater than these thresholds at 3.7 and 1.5%, respectively, of filtered untreated groundwater samples from 1263 public-supply wells in 19 principal aquifers across the United States. Nationally, 72% of samples with radon-222 (222Rn) concentrations > 4000 pCi/L had 210Pb ≥ 1.0 pCi/L. 210Pb is mobilized by alpha recoil associated with the decay of 222Rn and short-lived progeny. 210Pb concentrations ≥ 1.0 pCi/L occurred most frequently where acidic groundwaters inhibited 210Pb readsorption (felsic-crystalline rocks) and where reducing alkaline conditions favored dissolution of iron–manganese- (Fe–Mn-) oxyhydroxides (which adsorb 210Pb) and formation of lead–carbonate complexes (enhancing lead (Pb) mobility). 210Po concentrations ≥ 0.7 pCi/L occurred almost exclusively in confined Coastal Plain aquifers where old (low percent-modern carbon-14) groundwaters were reducing, with high pH (>7.5) and high sodium/chloride (Na/Cl) ratios resulting from cation exchange. In high-pH environments, aqueous polonium (Po) is poorly sorbed, occurring as dihydrogen polonate (H2PoO3(aq)) or, under strongly reducing conditions, as a hydrogen-polonide anion (HPo–). Fe–Mn- and sulfate-reduction and cation-exchange processes may mobilize polonium from mineral surfaces. Po2+ occurrence in low-to-neutral-pH waters is attenuated by adsorption.

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“…The primary contributors to adjusted gross beta are radium-228 and the beta-emitting isotopes on the uranium-238 decay series (protactinium-234 and thorium-234) . Prevalence is relatively high (>1.6%) in two PAs (17 cmor and 24-flor), both of which include carbonates and have a high prevalence for radium-226 + radium-228.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quality of Groundwater Used for Public Supply in the Continental United States: A Comprehensive Assessment

et al. 2022

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The presence of contaminants in a source water can constrain its suitability for drinking. The quality of groundwater used for public supply was assessed in 25 principal aquifers (PAs) that account for 84% of groundwater pumped for public supply in the U.S. (89.6 million people on a proportional basis). Each PA was sampled across its lateral extent using an equal-area grid, typically with 60 wells per PA. Samples were analyzed for 502 constituents, of which 374 had either a regulatory or nonregulatory human health benchmark (HHB). Nationally, elevated concentrations (relative to HHBs) of geogenic constituents have a larger effect than anthropogenic constituents, as indicated by three metrics: detection frequency, 35% versus 8.1%; prevalence (based on area), 41% versus 6.4%; and population potentially affected, 31.2 million versus 7.1 million. Prevalence of any constituent at elevated concentrations was high40 to 75%in PAs comprising unconsolidated sediment (eight PAs) and sandstone or interbedded sandstones and carbonates (four PAs) in the West and Central Interior. Prevalence was lower15 to 35%in PAs comprising sediment and sedimentary rocks along the Gulf and Atlantic Coasts (four PAs), carbonates distributed across the continental U.S. (seven PAs), and hard rock (two PAs).

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Gross-beta activity in ground water: natural sources and artifacts of sampling and laboratory analysis

Cited by 13 publications

References 12 publications

Concentrations and environmental fate of Ra in cation-exchange regeneration brine waste disposed to septic tanks and accumulation in sludge, New Jersey Coastal Plain, USA

Concentrations and environmental fate of Ra in cation-exchange regeneration brine waste disposed to septic tanks and accumulation in sludge, New Jersey Coastal Plain, USA

Occurrence and Geochemistry of Lead-210 and Polonium-210 Radionuclides in Public-Drinking-Water Supplies from Principal Aquifers of the United States

Quality of Groundwater Used for Public Supply in the Continental United States: A Comprehensive Assessment

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