Radon Concentrations in Raw Water and Treated Water Used for Bottled Water in South Korea

Byong Wook Cho, Jae Hong Hwang, Byeong Dae Lee, Yong Hwa Oh and Chang Oh Choo
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Byong Wook Cho: Groundwater Research Center, Geologic Environment Division, Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources, Daejeon 34142, Korea
Jae Hong Hwang: Geoscience Data Center, Geoscience Platform Division, Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources, Daejeon 34142, Korea
Byeong Dae Lee: Groundwater Research Center, Geologic Environment Division, Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources, Daejeon 34142, Korea
Yong Hwa Oh: Groundwater Research Center, Geologic Environment Division, Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources, Daejeon 34142, Korea
Chang Oh Choo: Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Andong National University, Andong 36729, Korea

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 13, 1-12

Abstract: Radon concentrations in the raw water and treated water used for 59 brands of bottled water produced in South Korea were analysed. The radon levels in 59 raw water samples ranged from 3.7 to 476.8 Bq/L, with a geometric mean of 49.0 Bq/L. The mean radon levels in raw water samples were high in Jurassic granite aquifers and low in volcanic rock aquifers. However, the maximum radon levels were observed in metamorphic rock aquifers. The concentrations in 55 treated water samples ranged from 0.1 to 239.4 Bq/L, with a geometric mean of 7.7 Bq/L. In treated water, radon levels decreased by 16.0–98.9% (average, 74.9%) due mainly to storage in water tanks and treatment with granular activated carbon (GAC) filters. The radon levels in raw water and treated water samples exceeded the US EPA alternative maximum contaminant level (AMCL) of 148 Bq/L by 16.9% and 1.8%, respectively. Considering the radon reduction rate, it is anticipated that the radon concentrations in bottled water in stores will not exceed 148 Bq/L because it takes about 1–2 weeks for treated water to reach the customer as bottled water.

Keywords: radon concentration; bottled water; raw water; treated water; radon reduction rate (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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