Geostatistical and Multivariate Assessment of Radon Distribution in Groundwater from the Mexican Altiplano

Alfredo Bizarro Sánchez, Marusia Renteria-Villalobos (), Héctor V. Cabadas Báez (), Alondra Villarreal Vega, Miguel Balcázar and Francisco Zepeda Mondragón
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Alfredo Bizarro Sánchez: Facultad de Geografía, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Toluca 50110, Mexico
Marusia Renteria-Villalobos: Faculty of Animal Science and Ecology, Autonomous University of Chihuahua, Perif. R. Almada km 1, Chihuahua 31453, Mexico
Héctor V. Cabadas Báez: Facultad de Geografía, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Toluca 50110, Mexico
Alondra Villarreal Vega: Faculty of Animal Science and Ecology, Autonomous University of Chihuahua, Perif. R. Almada km 1, Chihuahua 31453, Mexico
Miguel Balcázar: Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Nucleares, Carretera México—Toluca s/n, Ocoyoacac 52750, Mexico
Francisco Zepeda Mondragón: Facultad de Geografía, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Toluca 50110, Mexico

Resources, 2025, vol. 14, issue 10, 1-21

Abstract: This study examines the impact of physicochemical and geological factors on radon concentrations in groundwater throughout the Mexican Altiplano. Geological diversity, uranium deposits, seismic zones, and geothermal areas with high heat flow are all potential factors contributing to the presence of radon in groundwater. To move beyond local-scale assessments, this research employs spatial prediction methodologies that incorporate geological and geochemical variables recognized for their role in radon transport and geogenic potential. Certain properties of radon enable it to serve as an ideal tracer, viz., short half-life, inertness, and higher incidence in groundwater than surface water. Twenty-five variables were analyzed in samples from 135 water wells. Geostatistical techniques, including inverse distance weighted interpolation and kriging, were used in conjunction with multivariate statistical analyses. Salinity and geothermal heat flow are key indicators for determining groundwater origin, revealing a dynamic interplay between geothermal activity and hydrogeochemical evolution, where high temperatures do not necessarily correlate with increased solute concentrations. The occurrence of toxic trace elements such as Cd, Cr, and Pb is primarily governed by lithogenic sources and proximity to mineralized zones. Radon levels in groundwater are mainly influenced by geological and structural features, notably rhyolitic formations and deep hydrothermal systems. These findings underscore the importance of site-specific groundwater examination, combined with spatiotemporal models, to account for uranium–radium dynamics and flow paths, thereby enhancing radiological risk assessment.

Keywords: groundwater; radon; GIS; Mexican Altiplano (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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