Correlation between chemical composition and 90Sr concentrations in groundwater of the Chornobyl NPP industrial site

The volumetric activity of the divalent 90Sr ion in groundwater at the Chornobyl NPP industrial site ranges from 1 to 2 to 400–3800 Bq/l. The increase in groundwater radionuclides concentrations is associated with the reduced sorption properties of local sediments, which affect the migration capacity of radionuclides in the environment. The decrease of the 90Sr sorption properties of sediments is caused by changes in the chemical composition of groundwater. A new statistical method has been performed. Method based on the Monte Carlo method in order to evaluate the correlations between the 90Sr volumetric activity and the groundwater chemical composition components. Simulation results using this method suggest a correlation between the volumetric activity of 90Sr, the concentrations cations, the pH, and the oxidation index (organic contents). A direct correlation was established between the volumetric activity of 90Sr, Ca2+ concentrations and the pH of groundwater in the range from 7 to 12.4. It was revealed that the concentrations of Na+ and K+ do not affect the conditions of 90Sr migration with groundwater. There is an inverse correlation between the concentration of 90Sr and the oxidation index, which is an indirect indicator of the organic substances content in water. Thus, the presence of organic substances in the groundwater effectively promotes sorption of 90Sr. The proposed method of geochemical statistics enables a quantitative assessment of groundwater monitoring results. •Geochemical statistical method allows quantitative estimate of radionuclides migration.•Quantifying the relationship between 90Sr concentrations, pH, and some major ions.•Mathematically proven 90Sr volumetric activity is pH and Ca2+ concentration depended.•Direct correlation between 90Sr volumetric activity, and pH values.•Theoretical method for determining major factors enhancing migration of 90Sr.