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High Naturally Occurring Radioactivity in Fossil Groundwater from the Middle East

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Avner Vengosh*^†, Daniella Hirschfeld^†, David Vinson^†, Gary Dwyer^†, Hadas Raanan^†, Omar Rimawi^‡, Abdallah Al-Zoubi^‡, Emad Akkawi^‡, Amer Marie^§, Gustavo Haquin, Shikma Zaarur and Jiwchar Ganor^#

Division of Earth and Ocean Sciences, Nicholas School of the Environment, 205 Old Chemistry Building, Box 90227, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, Al-Balqa’ Applied University, Salt 19117, Jordan, Department of Applied Earth and Environmental Sciences, Al Quds University, P.O. Box 89, Bethany, Jerusalem, West Bank, Radiation Safety Division, Soreq Nuclear Research Center, Yavne 81800, Israel, Geological and Geophysics Department, Yale University, P.O. Box 208109, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8109, and Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O. Box 653, Beer Sheva 84105, Israel

Environ. Sci. Technol., 2009, 43 (6), pp 1769–1775

DOI: 10.1021/es802969r

Publication Date (Web): February 19, 2009

* Corresponding author phone: (919) 681-8050; e-mail: vengosh@duke.edu; fax: (919) 684-5833., †

Duke University.

, ‡

Al-Balqa’ Applied University.

, §

Al Quds University.

Soreq Nuclear Research Center.

Yale University.

, #

Ben Gurion University of the Negev.

Section:

Water

Abstract

High levels of naturally occurring and carcinogenic radium isotopes have been measured in low-saline and oxic groundwater from the Rum Group of the Disi sandstone aquifer in Jordan. The combined ²²⁸Ra and ²²⁶Ra activities are up to 2000% higher than international drinking water standards. Analyses of the host sandstone aquifer rocks show ²²⁸Ra and ²²⁶Ra activities and ratios that are consistent with previous reports of sandstone rocks from different parts of the world. A compilation of previous data in groundwater from worldwide sandstone aquifers shows large variations in Ra activities regardless of the groundwater salinity. On the basis of the distribution of the four Ra isotopes and the ratios of the short- to long-lived Ra isotopes, we postulate that Ra activity in groundwater is controlled by the balance of radioactive decay of parent Th isotopes on aquifer solids, decay of the dissolved radium isotopes, and adsorption of dissolved Ra on solid surfaces. The availability of surface adsorption sites, which depends on the clay content in the aquifer rocks, is therefore an important constraint for Ra activity in sandstone aquifers. These findings raise concerns about the safety of this and similar nonrenewable groundwater reservoirs, exacerbating the already severe water crisis in the Middle East.

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