Synapse
⌘+K
Synapse
PulseExploreClubsResearchersJournals
Instagram
HomeClubsExplore
August 22, 2026Environmental Science & TechnologyOpen Access

Matrix-Derived Radium Mobilization in Shallow Aquifers Near Unconventional Oil and Gas Operations

View Full Paper
Ask AI
Bookmark
Share

Authors

AFAllison FenskeJSJianfeng SuJBJennifer Baka

Discussion

Loading...

Member takes

Overview

Geochemical analysis finds elevated radium near gas wells stems from matrix desorption rather than direct fluid leaks, indicating shallow salinity mobilizes natural radionuclides.

Key Points

  • To determine the origin and release mechanisms of combined radium (226+228Ra) in shallow groundwater situated near unconventional oil and gas operations.
  • Measured combined radium activity (226+228Ra) alongside major ion concentrations across shallow groundwater samples (N=91) in Pennsylvania.
  • Assessed spatial relationships between radium activity and unconventional oil and gas wells, historical impoundments, and reported spills within 1, 3, and 5 km buffers.
  • Evaluated geochemical tracers, including Na/Cl, Cl/Br, and 228Ra/226Ra ratios, to differentiate between direct produced water contamination and matrix-bound cation exchange.
  • All tested groundwater samples exhibited combined radium activities below the U.S. EPA maximum contaminant level of 0.185 Bq/L (5 pCi/L), matching regional background levels.
  • Radium activities were significantly higher within 3 km of spills and historical impoundments and correlated positively with the surrounding density of oil and gas wells within 3 km.
  • Geochemical ratios demonstrated that only 6 of 91 samples matched produced water mixing, indicating that most elevated radium was mobilized from aquifer solids by shallow salinity sources.

Cite This Study

Fenske et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a895ffeca7ade938187ef0fhttps://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.6c05003
View Full Paper
Ask AI
Bookmark
Share

Also Consider

Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context:

  1. 1Groundwater Radionuclide Contamination in the Saumalkol Settlement Located near Decommissioned Uranium Mining Sites2026 · 7 citations
  2. 2Radium in marine sediments and offshore NORM/TENORM: a framework for environmental radiological protection, monitoring and risk assessment2026
  3. 3Radionuclide Distribution and Hydrochemical Controls in Groundwater of the Nile Valley, Upper Egypt: Health and Environmental Implications2025 · 7 citations
  4. 4Microvolume analysis of 226Ra by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry: Environmental applications to high-resolution profile of wetland soil pore waters2024 · 6 citations
  5. 5Radiological behavior and health risk assessment of radon gas in Lake Nasser sediments, Egypt: implications for natural hazards2025 · 5 citations