National Drinking Water Database
National Drinking Water Database - Chemical Contaminants
Combined Radium (-226 & -228)
Status: Regulated - EPA has established a maximum legal limit in tapwater for this contaminant.
Radium is a radioactive element usually found around uranium deposits. [read more]
Detected |
Found above health guidelines |
Found above legal limit |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| States | 32 |
32 |
21 |
| Water utilities | 5,327 |
5,327 |
551 |
| People Served | 41,186,678 |
41,186,678 |
4,015,387 |
Health Concerns for Combined Radium (-226 & -228):
Combined Radium (-226 & -228) Exposure by State
Water utilities in 32 states have reported detecting Combined Radium (-226 & -228) in treated tap water since 2004, according to EWG's analysis of water quality data supplied by state water agencies.
| State | Water Suppliers with Combined Radium (-226 & -228) contamination | Water suppliers reporting Combined Radium (-226 & -228) above health-based limits | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Systems | Population | Systems | Population | |
| Illinois | 918 | 7,893,389 | 918 | 7,893,389 |
| New Jersey | 489 | 7,287,784 | 489 | 7,287,784 |
| California | 169 | 5,947,225 | 169 | 5,947,225 |
| Maryland | 107 | 2,545,349 | 107 | 2,545,349 |
| New York | 947 | 2,418,233 | 947 | 2,418,233 |
| Nevada | 52 | 2,231,453 | 52 | 2,231,453 |
| North Carolina | 348 | 2,184,881 | 348 | 2,184,881 |
| Arizona | 24 | 1,877,668 | 24 | 1,877,668 |
| Connecticut | 330 | 1,175,233 | 330 | 1,175,233 |
| Oregon | 46 | 1,046,550 | 46 | 1,046,550 |
| Alabama | 12 | 985,374 | 12 | 985,374 |
| Iowa | 324 | 835,303 | 324 | 835,303 |
| Wisconsin | 218 | 832,430 | 218 | 832,430 |
| New Mexico | 242 | 776,018 | 242 | 776,018 |
| Missouri | 257 | 752,012 | 257 | 752,012 |
| Idaho | 80 | 531,680 | 80 | 531,680 |
| Virginia | 19 | 416,924 | 19 | 416,924 |
| Rhode Island | 19 | 345,389 | 19 | 345,389 |
| New Hampshire | 338 | 287,465 | 338 | 287,465 |
| Utah | 8 | 141,636 | 8 | 141,636 |
| Wyoming | 65 | 136,330 | 65 | 136,330 |
| Montana | 91 | 87,042 | 91 | 87,042 |
| Kentucky | 3 | 86,524 | 3 | 86,524 |
| South Carolina | 15 | 80,426 | 15 | 80,426 |
| Indiana | 26 | 80,033 | 26 | 80,033 |
| North Dakota | 16 | 63,566 | 16 | 63,566 |
| Ohio | 47 | 46,867 | 47 | 46,867 |
| Washington | 25 | 40,568 | 25 | 40,568 |
| Vermont | 45 | 26,504 | 45 | 26,504 |
| Nebraska | 16 | 12,115 | 16 | 12,115 |
| Maine | 30 | 8,707 | 30 | 8,707 |
| Delaware | 1 | 6,000 | 1 | 6,000 |
| Total | 5,327 | 41,186,678 | 5,327 | 41,186,678 |
The Most Polluted Communities
5,327 water utilities reported detecting Combined Radium (-226 & -228) in tap water since 2004, according to EWG's analysis of water quality data supplied by state water agencies
Ranked by highest average Combined Radium (-226 & -228) level
| Rank | System | Population Served | Positive test results of total reported tests | Average Level (Range) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Castine Water Department Castine, ME | 1,063 | 1 of 1 | 14.93 pCi/L (14.93 pCi/L) |
| 2 | Gurnee Gurnee, IL | 31,000 | 1 of 1 | 14.7 pCi/L (14.7 pCi/L) |
| 3 | Wildwood Water Company Old Lyme, CT | 132 | 1 of 1 | 14.3 pCi/L (14.3 pCi/L) |
| 4 | Villa Park Villa Park, IL | 22,517 | 1 of 1 | 13.1 pCi/L (13.1 pCi/L) |
| 5 | Arlington Heights Arlington Heights, IL | 76,943 | 1 of 1 | 12.6 pCi/L (12.6 pCi/L) |
| 6 | Newbury Crossing Condominium Assn, Inc Southbury, CT | 132 | 3 of 3 | 12.32 pCi/L (10.08 to 14.76 pCi/L) |
| 7 | Grayslake Grayslake, IL | 20,330 | 2 of 2 | 12.31 pCi/L (10.8 to 13.82 pCi/L) |
| 8 | Wycliff Meadows Subd Pilot Knob, MO | 100 | 1 of 1 | 12.3 pCi/L (12.3 pCi/L) |
| 9 | Countryside Villa Wade, NC | 60 | 6 of 6 | 12.21 pCi/L (10.32 to 14.5 pCi/L) |
| 10 | Mount Prospect Mt Prospect, IL | 40,904 | 1 of 1 | 12.1 pCi/L (12.1 pCi/L) |
Health Based Limits for Combined Radium (-226 & -228)
| Standard | Description | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum Contaminant Limit Goal (MCLG) | A non-enforceable health goal that is set at a level at which no known or anticipated adverse effect on the health of persons occurs and which allows an adequate margin of safety. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. | 0 pCi/L |
| Maximum Contaminant Limit (MCL) | The enforceable standard which defines the highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to health-based limits (Maximum Contaminant Level Goals, or MCLGs) as feasible using the best available analytical and treatment technologies and taking cost into consideration. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. | 5 pCi/L |
Testing Summary for Combined Radium (-226 & -228)
| Are tests routinely required for Combined Radium (-226 & -228) by federal law? | Yes |
| Water suppliers reporting tests for Combined Radium (-226 & -228) (2004-2009): | 7,801 of 47,576 |
| Average testing rate for water supplier reporting tests (2004-2009): | 0.6 per year |
Violation Summary for Combined Radium (-226 & -228)
Data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency includes the following violations of federal standards for Combined Radium (-226 & -228) since 2004
| Maximum Contaminant Level Exceedance Violations | 2,826 |
| Monitoring Violations | 8,925 |
| Reporting Violations | 6 |
Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Limited evidence of cardiovascular or blood toxicity | National Library of Medicine HazMap |
Government, industry, academic studies and classifications
| government/industry list/academic study | appears on list as | classification(s) |
| National Library of Medicine HazMap | RADIUM | •Anemia: Anemia, Aplastic; •IARC Carcinogen - International Agency for Research on Cancer; classifies chemicals as established (1), probable (2a), or possible (2b) human carcinogens: Known Carcinogen; |
references
| government/industry list/academic study | reference |
| National Library of Medicine HazMap | NLM (National Library of Medicine). 2006. HazMap — Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Agents. |
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