title: Using ²²²Rn as a naturally occurring tracer to estimate NAPL contamination in an aquifer.
abstract: The naturally occurring radioisotope (222)Rn was used as a partitioning tracer to evaluate the presence and amount of a non-aqueous phase liquid (NAPL) in an aquifer. The batch experiment results of a diesel contaminated soil showed that the emanation rate of (222)Rn decreased to 31%, relative to a background rate. Batch experiment results of water contaminated by gasoline, diesel, PCE and TCE were similar. A field study to examine TCE contamination was conducted using 54 groundwater samples in Wonju city, Republic of Korea. Estimates of TCE contamination ranged from <0.001 mg/L to 14.3mg/L, and (222)Rn concentrations ranged from 1.89 Bq/L to 444. Results of (222)Rn analysis showed that TCE contamination was mainly restricted to an asphalt laboratory area and that the (222)Rn values of a NAPL-contaminated aquifer were correlated with TCE analytical results.
authors.affiliation: Geologic Environment Division, Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources, 124 Gwahang-no Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 305-350, South Korea. yyyoon@kigam.re.kr
authors.forename: Yoon Yeol
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Dong Chan
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Koh
authors.forename: Kil Yong
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Soo Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Jae Ha
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Kang Kun
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D001417:Background Radiation; D060587:Groundwater / Q000032:analysis* / Q000592:standards*; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011834:Radiation Monitoring / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D011886:Radon / Q000032:analysis* / Q000592:standards*; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014875:Water Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis* / Q000592:standards*
chemical_list: D014875:Water Pollutants, Radioactive; D011886:Radon
keywords: (222)Rn; NAPL contamination; Partitioning tracer; Wonju groundwater