Origin and risk assessment of natural radioactivity in groundwater from the Eastern Gonghe Basin, Tibetan Plateau
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Abstract:
This study systematically investigates natural radioactivity in groundwater from the densely populated eastern Gonghe Basin in Qinghai Province, aiming to reveal its spatial distribution, origins, and potential health risks. The characteristics of gross-α and gross-β activities, as well as the concentrations of nuclide including 238U, 232Th, and 226Ra, have been investigated in groundwater samples from 12 groups encompassing various types such as hot springs and artesian wells across different aquifer systems. Correlation analysis and dose estimation models were applied to preliminary estimate the radiation exposure to local residents and to explore the genesis and hazards of natural radioactivity in groundwater. Results indicate that overall groundwater radioactivity in the Gonghe Basin remains within acceptable limits, with mean gross-α and gross-β activity concentrations of 0.32 Bq/L and 0.27 Bq/L, respectively. Approximately 83.33% of samples comply with relevant national standards. However, two fault-controlled high-temperature spring samples exhibited gross-α activity exceeding regulatory limits, with one also showing elevated gross-β activity surpassing China's Class III groundwater quality standards for radioactivity. Furthermore, single-radionuclide α radioactivity from 230Th, 226Ra, 210Po, and 232Th exceeded regulatory thresholds in some samples, suggesting potential long-term health risks. While most samples complied with effective dose limits, four showed 210Po α radioactivity exceedances within controllable risk ranges. The findings suggest that groundwater radioactivity in the region is primarily controlled by geological structures, lithology, and hydrothermal conditions, with fault zones and high-temperature environments serving as key factors in radionuclide enrichment. This research provides scientific foundation for the sustainable development of geothermal resources and the prevention of radioactive water contamination. Continuous monitoring of high-radioactivity hot springs and prudent resource utilization are recommended.
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Key words:
- Groundwater radioactivity /
- Gross-α /
- Gross-β /
- Radionuclides /
- Effective dose
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Table 1. Measured active concentration of gross-α, gross-β, and associated radionuclide contents in groundwater samples from the Gonghe Basin
Field number pH T U Th 226Ra 40K gross-α gross-β °C μg/L Bq/L GR-2 8.36 19.2 0.209 0.005 0.008 0.166 0.079 0.141 AYH 7.35 30.9 0.098 0.008 ＜0.008 0.159 0.064 0.143 XTM-1 8.48 27.8 1.06 0.006 0.009 0.079 0.206 0.116 STM-1 8.23 25.4 2.01 0.003 ＜0.008 0.069 0.262 0.089 STM-2 8.17 17.1 4.55 <0.002 0.008 0.083 0.151 0.114 DR-4 - - 0.045 0.005 ＜0.008 0.252 0.069 0.152 GSJ - - 6.48 <0.002 ＜0.008 0.099 0.097 0.136 GH-02 - - 0.076 0.008 0.04 0.795 0.191 0.146 GH-04 - - 0.006 0.001 ＜0.008 0.5 0.067 0.064 QNH 5.59 70.3 0.038 0.003 ＜0.008 1.59 1.19 1.26 ZCS 5.19 72.8 0.164 0.004 0.809 0.66 1.13 0.613 XJ 5.74 55.6 0.044 0.015 ＜0.008 0.219 ＜0.036 0.213 
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Table 2. Comparison of gross α/β activity concentrations in groundwater from this study with values reported in the literature (Bq/L)
Country/Region Type gross-α gross-β References Nigeria Drinking water 0.0058–0.174 0.0147–0.2225 Fasae et al. (2013) Australia Drinking water 1.40 1.15 Kleinschmidt (2004) Germany Drinking water 0.013–0.97 Beyermann et al. (2010) Italy Drinking water 0.25–1.1 Jia et al. (2009) Serbia Drinking water 0.029–0.21 MDC-0.4 N Todorović et al. (2012) Singapore Drinking water < MDA 0.228–0.258 Ong JX et al. (2024) Finland Drilled well water 2.4 1.5 Salonen (1994) Turkey Groundwater 0.192 0.579 Turhan et al. (2013) Brazil (Sao Paulo) Groundwater 0.001–0.4 0.12–0.86 Bonotto et al. (2008) Nigeria Groundwater 0.15±0.003 6.0±0.1 Agbalagba et al. (2013) Ghana Groundwater 0.0157–0.198 0.122–0.28 Darko et al. (2015) Southwestern Caspian Groundwater 0.016–1 0.022–0.63 Jowzaee (2013) United Arab Emirates Groundwater 1.4±4.1 1.5±1.52 Murad et al. (2014) Aqaba, Jordan Groundwater 0.64 0.71 Awadallah M et al. (2012) Saudi Arabia, Hail Groundwater 2.15 2.60 EI and AA (2014) Saudi Arabia, North-western Groundwater 3.15±0.26 5.39±0.44 Alkhomashi et al. (2016) Saudi Arabia, Northern region Groundwater 3.51±0.33 3.48±0.36 Fahad I et al. (2020) Gonghe basin Groundwater 0.06–1.19 0.06–1.26 Present work
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Table 3. Pearson correlation coefficient matrix for radioactive element parameters in groundwater samples from the Gonghe Basin
Item U Th 226Ra 40K Rn gross-α gross-β U 1 Th −0.560 1 226Ra −0.212 0.023 1 40K −0.400 −0.047 0.521 1 Rn 0.169 0.046 −0.465 −0.706 1 gross-α −0.256 −0.062 0.979 0.762 0.719 1 gross-β −0.249 −0.074 0.986 0.873 −0.672 0.911 1
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Table 4. Estimated annual effective dose of α emitters in groundwater samples from the Gonghe Basin
No. gross-α Annual effective dose /μSv/a Bq/L 238U 234U 230Th 226Ra 210Po 232Th 228Th GR-2 0.079 2.60 2.83 12.11 16.15 69.20 13.26 4.15 AYH 0.064 2.10 2.29 9.81 13.08 56.06 10.75 3.36 XTM-1 0.206 6.77 7.37 31.58 42.11 180.46 34.59 10.83 STM-1 0.262 8.61 9.37 40.16 53.55 229.51 43.99 13.77 STM-2 0.151 4.96 5.40 23.15 30.86 132.28 25.35 7.94 DR-4 0.069 2.27 2.47 10.58 14.10 60.44 11.59 3.63 GSJ 0.097 3.19 3.47 14.87 19.83 84.97 16.29 5.10 GH-02 0.191 6.27 6.83 29.28 39.04 167.32 32.07 10.04 GH-04 0.067 2.20 2.40 10.27 13.69 58.69 11.25 3.52 QNH 1.19 39.09 42.57 182.43 243.24 1042.44 199.80 62.55 ZCS 1.13 37.12 40.42 173.23 230.97 989.88 189.73 59.39 ZNH 0.036 1.18 1.29 5.52 7.36 31.54 6.04 1.89
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Table 5. Annual effective dose of β emitters in groundwater of the study area
No. gross-β Annual effective dose of β radiation /μSv/a Bq/L 228Ra 210Pb GR-2 0.141 7.10 7.10 AYH 0.143 7.20 7.20 XTM-1 0.116 5.84 5.84 STM-1 0.089 4.48 4.48 STM-2 0.114 5.74 5.74 DR-4 0.152 7.66 7.66 GSJ 0.136 6.85 6.85 GH-02 0.146 7.35 7.35 GH-04 0.064 3.22 3.22 QNH 1.26 63.47 63.47 ZCS 0.613 30.88 30.88 ZNH 0.213 10.73 10.73
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