Correlation Analysis of Atmospheric Be-7 Concentrations and Environmental Factors in the Republic of Korea

Background: Beryllium-7 (Be-7), influenced by various environmental factors, is valuable for tracking radioactive material migration due to its short half-life and dynamic atmospheric distribution. These properties make Be-7 particularly useful for assessing the behavior of radioactive substances under changing environmental conditions or after radiation incidents. This study aims to establish foundational data by examining the correlation between Be-7 concentrations and environmental factors specific to the Republic of Korea. Materials and Methods: Be-7 radiation concentrations from 2013 to 2022 were collected from the National Environmental Radiation Survey Report of the Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety. Precipitation, humidity, particulate matter (PM₁₀), and atmospheric pressure data were sourced from the Korea Meteorological Administration and the Ministry of Environment. Monthly and seasonal trends were analyzed, and Pearson correlation coefficients were used to assess the relationship between Be-7 concentrations and environmental factors, with the significance evaluated using p-values. Results and Discussion: Analysis showed consistent nationwide trends, with Be-7 concentrations significantly decreasing each summer. Precipitation and humidity peaked in summer and negatively correlated with Be-7 concentrations, whereas PM₁₀ and atmospheric pressure were lowest in summer and positively correlated with Be-7 concentrations. All correlations had p-values below 0.001, indicating statistical significance. Conclusion: The findings indicate a significant relationship between Be-7 concentrations and environmental factors in the Republic of Korea, offering essential data for future research on radioactive material migration and informing environmental radiation safety strategies.