An evaluation of 222Rn concentrations in Idaho groundwater

Factors potentially correlated with Rn-222 concentrations in ground water were evaluated using a database compiled by the U.S. Geological Survey. These included chemical and radiological factors, and both well depth and discharge rate. The Rn-222 concentrations contained within this database were examined as a function of latitude and longitude. It was observed that the U.S. Geological Survey sample locations for Rn-222 were not uniformly distributed throughout the state. Hence, additional samples were collected in southeastern Idaho, a region where few Rn-222 in water analyses had been performed. Rn-222 concentrations in groundwater, in Idaho, were found using ANOVA (alpha = 0.05) to be independent of the chemical, radiological, and well parameters thus far examined. This lack of correlation with other water quality and well parameters is consistent with findings in other geographical locations. It was observed that an inverse relationship between radon concentration and water hardness may exist.