Zhao-xuan Niu; Zhi-hui Deng; Xue Niu; Dong-fang Chen; Gui-lin Zhu; Wen-hao Xu; Lin-you Zhang; Qing-da Feng

doi:10.26599/JGSE.2025.9280056

doi: 10.26599/JGSE.2025.9280056

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出版历程
- 收稿日期: 2024-07-16
- 录用日期: 2025-05-23
- 网络出版日期: 2025-07-20
- 刊出日期: 2025-08-08

Origin and risk assessment of natural radioactivity in groundwater from the Eastern Gonghe Basin, Tibetan Plateau

1.
Center for Hydrogeology and Environmental Geology Survey, CGS, Tianjin 300304, China

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Corresponding author: dzhihui@mail.cgs.gov.cn

摘要

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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.
- Groundwater radioactivity /
- Gross-α /
- Gross-β /
- Radionuclides /
- Effective dose

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Figure 1. Geological structure and sampling point location map of the Gonghe Basin

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Figure 2. Relationship between gross-α and gross-β activities in groundwater samples

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Figure 3. Relationship between gross-α/gross-β activity concentrations and pH values in groundwater samples from the Gonghe Basin

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Figure 4. Relationship between gross-α/gross-β activity concentrations and groundwater temperature in samples from the Gonghe Basin

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Figure 5. Relationship between gross-β and ⁴⁰K concentration in groundwater samples from the Gonghe Basin

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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
Field number	pH	°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
No.	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
No.	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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