National Drinking Water Database
National Drinking Water Database - Chemical Contaminants
Combined Uranium (pCi/L)
Status: Regulated - EPA has established a maximum legal limit in tapwater for this contaminant.
Uranium is a radioactive element commonly found in most rocks; processed ore is used for power generation and weapons manufacture. [read more]
Detected |
Found above health guidelines |
Found above legal limit |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| States | 28 |
19 |
19 |
| Water utilities | 3,122 |
296 |
296 |
| People Served | 64,520,462 |
1,691,908 |
1,691,908 |
Health Concerns for Combined Uranium (pCi/L):
- Cancer
- Persistence and bioaccumulation
- Occupational hazards
- Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
- Ecotoxicology
Combined Uranium (pCi/L) Exposure by State
Water utilities in 28 states have reported detecting Combined Uranium (pCi/L) 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 Uranium (pCi/L) contamination | Water suppliers reporting Combined Uranium (pCi/L) above health-based limits | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Systems | Population | Systems | Population | |
| California | 887 | 40,774,350 | 88 | 1,104,493 |
| Idaho | 122 | 589,341 | 28 | 248,833 |
| Nebraska | 159 | 1,097,850 | 46 | 162,492 |
| Nevada | 62 | 1,866,171 | 6 | 74,139 |
| North Carolina | 182 | 1,660,832 | 30 | 26,188 |
| New Jersey | 170 | 2,994,340 | 6 | 18,716 |
| Massachusetts | 25 | 31,486 | 10 | 10,010 |
| Texas | 31 | 2,755,607 | 6 | 9,597 |
| New Hampshire | 298 | 210,156 | 33 | 7,340 |
| Maryland | 15 | 24,194 | 2 | 7,000 |
| Pennsylvania | 189 | 980,379 | 4 | 6,609 |
| New York | 282 | 905,297 | 6 | 6,403 |
| Connecticut | 136 | 156,706 | 19 | 4,703 |
| Virginia | 8 | 4,964 | 5 | 3,630 |
| Wisconsin | 61 | 319,254 | 2 | 759 |
| Florida | 144 | 6,407,608 | 1 | 400 |
| South Dakota | 14 | 81,644 | 2 | 256 |
| Rhode Island | 3 | 17,785 | 1 | 175 |
| Wyoming | 10 | 13,790 | 1 | 165 |
| Illinois | 188 | 1,701,661 | 0 | 0 |
| Arizona | 12 | 1,505,233 | 0 | 0 |
| Minnesota | 43 | 303,688 | 0 | 0 |
| Missouri | 61 | 110,428 | 0 | 0 |
| Vermont | 8 | 4,873 | 0 | 0 |
| Iowa | 5 | 2,155 | 0 | 0 |
| Montana | 5 | 515 | 0 | 0 |
| North Dakota | 1 | 91 | 0 | 0 |
| Maine | 1 | 64 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 3,122 | 64,520,462 | 296 | 1,691,908 |
The Most Polluted Communities
3,122 water utilities reported detecting Combined Uranium (pCi/L) in tap water since 2004, according to EWG's analysis of water quality data supplied by state water agencies
Ranked by highest average Combined Uranium (pCi/L) level
| Rank | System | Population Served | Positive test results of total reported tests | Average Level (Range) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rainbird Valley Mutual Water Company Weldon, CA | 225 | 1 of 1 | 60 pCi/L (60 pCi/L) |
| 2 | Slope N Shore Club New London, NH | 180 | 2 of 2 | 58.5 pCi/L (57 to 60 pCi/L) |
| 3 | Village of Beemer Beemer, NE | 700 | 1 of 1 | 56.9 pCi/L (56.9 pCi/L) |
| 4 | Village of Bellwood Bellwood, NE | 440 | 2 of 2 | 54.1 pCi/L (50.6 to 57.6 pCi/L) |
| 5 | Sandy Lane Village Condominium Assn Brookfield, CT | 318 | 4 of 4 | 51.33 pCi/L (43.85 to 56.61 pCi/L) |
| 6 | Sierra Linda Mutual Water Co North Fork, CA | 225 | 1 of 1 | 50.8 pCi/L (50.8 pCi/L) |
| 7 | Acre Lane, Inc. Ridgefield, CT | 56 | 7 of 7 | 49.86 pCi/L (41.71 to 57.44 pCi/L) |
| 8 | Candlewood Lake Condominium Assn., Inc. Danbury, CT | 196 | 5 of 5 | 49.75 pCi/L (42.74 to 55.8 pCi/L) |
| 9 | Sunlight Terrace Middleton, ID | 234 | 12 of 12 | 49.08 pCi/L (36 to 60 pCi/L) |
| 10 | Countryside Homes Fremont, NH | 138 | 1 of 1 | 49 pCi/L (49 pCi/L) |
Health Based Limits for Combined Uranium (pCi/L)
| Standard | Description | Level |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | 15 pCi/L |
Testing Summary for Combined Uranium (pCi/L)
| Are tests routinely required for Combined Uranium (pCi/L) by federal law? | Yes |
| Water suppliers reporting tests for Combined Uranium (pCi/L) (2004-2010): | 4,951 of 47,576 |
| Average testing rate for water supplier reporting tests (2004-2010): | 0.6 per year |
Cancer
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Known human carcinogen | Amer Conf of Gov't Industrial Hygienists - Carcinogens |
| Cancer - strong evidence | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
Persistence and bioaccumulation
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Not suspected to be bioaccumulative | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
Occupational hazards
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to very low doses | European Union - Classification & Labelling |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to very low doses | National Library of Medicine HazMap |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to very low doses | RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to low doses | National Library of Medicine HazMap |
| Strong evidence of occupational hazards | European Union - Classification & Labelling |
| Single case study detailing occupational hazards | Frazier , L, 1998 |
Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Possible human renal toxicant | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| Classified as very toxic or harmful | European Union - Classification & Labelling |
| Limited evidence of renal toxicity | CHE Toxicant and Disease Database |
| Limited evidence of respiratory toxicity | US EPA, Air Risk Information Support Center, 1990 |
| Limited evidence of kidney toxicity | Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, 2004 |
| One or more animal studies show broad systemic effects at moderate doses (low dose studies may be unavailable for this ingredient) | RTECS®- Gigiena i Sanitariya 1972 |
| Classified as not expected to be potentially toxic or harmful | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
| Classified as a low human health priority | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
Ecotoxicology
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Wildlife and environmental toxicity | European Union - Classification & Labelling |
| Not suspected to be an environmental toxin | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
Government, industry, academic studies and classifications
| government/industry list/academic study | appears on list as | classification(s) |
| European Union - Classification & Labelling | URANIUM | •Very toxic •Very toxic by inhalation and if swallowed •Danger of cumulative effects •May cause long-term adverse effects in the aquatic environment |
| European Union - Classification & Labelling | URANIUM COMPOUNDS | •Very toxic •Very toxic by inhalation and if swallowed •Danger of cumulative effects •Dangerous for the environment •Toxic to aquatic organisms |
| Amer Conf of Gov't Industrial Hygienists - Carcinogens | URANIUM (AS U) | •Confirmed human carcinogen (ACGIH classification A1) |
| Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics | URANIUM | • o |
| Environment Canada Domestic Substance List | URANIUM | •This chemical was deemed a low human health priority and was NOT flagged by CEPA for further attention. The chemical was flagged for suspected persistence. |
| National Library of Medicine HazMap | URANIUM AND COMPOUNDS | •Nephrotoxin: Yes; •PEL (OSHA) - Permissible exposure limit (OSHA): 0.05 mg/m3, as U; •STEL (ACGIH) - Short-term exposure limits (ACGIH): 0.6 mg/m3, as U; •Bioaccumulates: Yes; •TLV (ACGIH) - Threshold limit value (ACGIH): 0.2 mg/m3, as U; •Flammability (NFPA) - NFPA flammability code: 0 = will not burn; 1 = must be preheated; 2 = high ambient temp required; 3 = may ignite at ambient temp; 4 = burn readily: 4: burns readily; •IDLH (NIOSH) - Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health: 10 mg/m3, as U; |
| Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, 2004 | URANIUM | •Kidney toxicity hazards: suspected |
| US EPA, Air Risk Information Support Center | URANIUM | •Cardiovascular or blood toxicity hazards: suspected |
| US EPA, Air Risk Information Support Center, 1990 | URANIUM | •Respiratory toxicity hazards: suspected |
| Frazier , L, 1998 | URANIUM | •Reproductive toxicity hazards: suspected |
| Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, 2004 | URANIUM (SOLUBLE SALTS) | •Kidney toxicity hazards: suspected |
| RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 | URANIUM | • occupationally related - ACGIH TLV (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- Gigiena i Sanitariya 1972 | URANIUM | • broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (rat LD50) |
references
| government/industry list/academic study | reference |
| European Union - Classification & Labelling | CPS&Q (Consumer Products Safety & Quality) formely known as ECB (European Chemicals Bureau). 2008. Classification and Labelling: Chemicals: Annex VI of Directive 67/548/EEC through the 31st ATP. |
| Amer Conf of Gov't Industrial Hygienists - Carcinogens | ACGIH (American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists) 2008. ACGIH cancer classification system. www.acgih.org. |
| Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics | AOEC (Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics). 2009. AEOC exposures codes and asthmagen designation. |
| Environment Canada Domestic Substance List | EC (Environment Canada). 2008. Domestic Substances List Categorization. Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) Environmental Registry. |
| National Library of Medicine HazMap | NLM (National Library of Medicine). 2006. HazMap — Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Agents. |
| Scorecard.org Toxicity Information | Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Minimal risk Levels for Hazardous Substances. January 2004. http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/mrls.html, A Relational Database of Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases. Browse Haz-Map by Adverse Effects http://hazmap.nlm.nih.gov/hazmapadv.html, Landrigan, P.J., Goyer, R.A. Clarkson, T.W., Sandler, D.P., Smith, J.H., Thun, M.J., and R. Wedeen. The Work-Relatedness of Renal Disease. Archives of Environmental Health. 39(3): 225-230. 1984. (Table 2: Estimated Numbers of Workers in the United States with Potential Occupational Exposures to Known or Suspect Nephrotoxins)., Merck & Co. The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy. TABLE 226-1. Common Nephrotoxic Agents http://www.merck.com/pubs/mmanual/tables/226tb1.htm |
| Scorecard.org Toxicity Information | US EPA, Air Risk Information Support Center. Health Effects Notebook for Hazardous Air Pollutants. http://www.epa.gov/ttnatw01/hlthef/hapindex.html |
| Scorecard.org Toxicity Information | US EPA, Air Risk Information Support Center. Health Effects Notebook for Hazardous Air Pollutants. http://www.epa.gov/ttnatw01/hlthef/hapindex.html, Nemery, B. Metal Toxicity and the Respiratory Tract. European Respiratory Journal. 3(2): 202-219. 1990.(Table 1: Summary of pulmonary toxicity of metals). |
| Scorecard.org Toxicity Information | Frazier , L. and M. L. Hage (eds.). Reproductive Hazards of the Workplace, Wiley Europe, 1998. Table 10 (Partial List of Reproductive Toxicants) available at http://www.pharmacy.ohio-state.edu/homepage/safety/chemhygiene_table_repro.pdf. |
| Scorecard.org Toxicity Information | Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Minimal risk Levels for Hazardous Substances. January 2004. http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/mrls.html |
| RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 | RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 |
| RTECS®- Gigiena i Sanitariya 1972 | RTECS®- Gigiena i Sanitariya. For English translation, see HYSAAV. (V/O Mezhdunarodnaya Kniga, 113095 Moscow, USSR) V.1- 1936- 37(10),27,1972 |
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