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Article

Geostatistical and Multivariate Assessment of Radon Distribution in Groundwater from the Mexican Altiplano

by
Alfredo Bizarro Sánchez
1,
Marusia Renteria-Villalobos
2,*,
Héctor V. Cabadas Báez
1,*,
Alondra Villarreal Vega
2,
Miguel Balcázar
3 and
Francisco Zepeda Mondragón
1
1
Facultad de Geografía, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Toluca 50110, Mexico
2
Faculty of Animal Science and Ecology, Autonomous University of Chihuahua, Perif. R. Almada km 1, Chihuahua 31453, Mexico
3
Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Nucleares, Carretera México—Toluca s/n, Ocoyoacac 52750, Mexico
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Resources 2025, 14(10), 154; https://doi.org/10.3390/resources14100154
Submission received: 16 June 2025 / Revised: 5 September 2025 / Accepted: 10 September 2025 / Published: 29 September 2025

Abstract

This study examines the impact of physicochemical and geological factors on radon concentrations in groundwater throughout the Mexican Altiplano. Geological diversity, uranium deposits, seismic zones, and geothermal areas with high heat flow are all potential factors contributing to the presence of radon in groundwater. To move beyond local-scale assessments, this research employs spatial prediction methodologies that incorporate geological and geochemical variables recognized for their role in radon transport and geogenic potential. Certain properties of radon enable it to serve as an ideal tracer, viz., short half-life, inertness, and higher incidence in groundwater than surface water. Twenty-five variables were analyzed in samples from 135 water wells. Geostatistical techniques, including inverse distance weighted interpolation and kriging, were used in conjunction with multivariate statistical analyses. Salinity and geothermal heat flow are key indicators for determining groundwater origin, revealing a dynamic interplay between geothermal activity and hydrogeochemical evolution, where high temperatures do not necessarily correlate with increased solute concentrations. The occurrence of toxic trace elements such as Cd, Cr, and Pb is primarily governed by lithogenic sources and proximity to mineralized zones. Radon levels in groundwater are mainly influenced by geological and structural features, notably rhyolitic formations and deep hydrothermal systems. These findings underscore the importance of site-specific groundwater examination, combined with spatiotemporal models, to account for uranium–radium dynamics and flow paths, thereby enhancing radiological risk assessment.
Keywords: groundwater; radon; GIS; Mexican Altiplano groundwater; radon; GIS; Mexican Altiplano

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MDPI and ACS Style

Bizarro Sánchez, A.; Renteria-Villalobos, M.; Cabadas Báez, H.V.; Villarreal Vega, A.; Balcázar, M.; Zepeda Mondragón, F. Geostatistical and Multivariate Assessment of Radon Distribution in Groundwater from the Mexican Altiplano. Resources 2025, 14, 154. https://doi.org/10.3390/resources14100154

AMA Style

Bizarro Sánchez A, Renteria-Villalobos M, Cabadas Báez HV, Villarreal Vega A, Balcázar M, Zepeda Mondragón F. Geostatistical and Multivariate Assessment of Radon Distribution in Groundwater from the Mexican Altiplano. Resources. 2025; 14(10):154. https://doi.org/10.3390/resources14100154

Chicago/Turabian Style

Bizarro Sánchez, Alfredo, Marusia Renteria-Villalobos, Héctor V. Cabadas Báez, Alondra Villarreal Vega, Miguel Balcázar, and Francisco Zepeda Mondragón. 2025. "Geostatistical and Multivariate Assessment of Radon Distribution in Groundwater from the Mexican Altiplano" Resources 14, no. 10: 154. https://doi.org/10.3390/resources14100154

APA Style

Bizarro Sánchez, A., Renteria-Villalobos, M., Cabadas Báez, H. V., Villarreal Vega, A., Balcázar, M., & Zepeda Mondragón, F. (2025). Geostatistical and Multivariate Assessment of Radon Distribution in Groundwater from the Mexican Altiplano. Resources, 14(10), 154. https://doi.org/10.3390/resources14100154

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