Anomalously high levels of uranium and other naturally occurring radionuclides in private wells in the piedmont region of South Carolina.

Anomalously high levels of uranium and 210Pb have been detected in untreated domestic groundwater wells near Simpsonville/Fountain Inn, South Carolina. Nine wells were sampled from the affected area and analyzed for total uranium, 234, 235, 238U, 226, 228Ra, 222Rn, and 210Pb as well other water quality parameters. These data augment other uranium concentration measurements and limited 226, 228Ra and 222Rn concentration measurements collected on private and public wells by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control. The observed radionuclide data were compared to maximum levels published in several national surveys from the past 30 years. The total uranium concentration in the groundwater ranged from 44.3 to 5,570 microg L(-1), with one well having the second highest published concentration in the U.S. The U/U activity ratio ranged from 1.1 to 2.5. 226Ra concentrations ranged from less than the minimum detectable concentration (< MDC) to 1,154 mBq L(-1) while the 228Ra concentration ranged from < MDC to 532.8 mBq L(-1) and the 222Rn levels ranged from 62 to 1,510 Bq L(-1). The 210Pb concentrations ranged from < MDC to 844 mBq L(-1).