National Drinking Water Database
National Drinking Water Database - Chemical Contaminants
Radium-226
Status: Regulated - EPA has established a maximum legal limit in tapwater for this contaminant.
Radium-226 is a radioactive element usually found around uranium deposits. [read more]
Detected |
Found above health guidelines |
Found above legal limit |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| States | 36 |
36 |
24 |
| Water utilities | 7,935 |
7,935 |
313 |
| People Served | 91,727,137 |
91,727,137 |
1,519,507 |
Health Concerns for Radium-226:
Radium-226 Exposure by State
Water utilities in 36 states have reported detecting Radium-226 in treated tap water since 2004, according to EWG's analysis of water quality data supplied by state water agencies.
| State | Water Suppliers with Radium-226 contamination | Water suppliers reporting Radium-226 above health-based limits | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Systems | Population | Systems | Population | |
| California | 441 | 32,437,688 | 441 | 32,437,688 |
| Florida | 549 | 14,675,986 | 549 | 14,675,986 |
| Illinois | 894 | 8,033,465 | 894 | 8,033,465 |
| New Jersey | 444 | 6,976,946 | 444 | 6,976,946 |
| Texas | 978 | 4,843,812 | 978 | 4,843,812 |
| Massachusetts | 138 | 3,203,532 | 138 | 3,203,532 |
| New York | 944 | 2,731,795 | 944 | 2,731,795 |
| Maryland | 127 | 2,375,711 | 127 | 2,375,711 |
| Nevada | 49 | 1,887,763 | 49 | 1,887,763 |
| Arizona | 25 | 1,867,425 | 25 | 1,867,425 |
| North Carolina | 200 | 1,445,611 | 200 | 1,445,611 |
| Arkansas | 269 | 1,432,924 | 269 | 1,432,924 |
| Missouri | 638 | 1,324,353 | 638 | 1,324,353 |
| Pennsylvania | 149 | 1,119,906 | 149 | 1,119,906 |
| Alabama | 14 | 1,026,189 | 14 | 1,026,189 |
| Virginia | 98 | 1,019,267 | 98 | 1,019,267 |
| Wisconsin | 211 | 827,739 | 211 | 827,739 |
| Nebraska | 97 | 776,008 | 97 | 776,008 |
| New Mexico | 244 | 661,195 | 244 | 661,195 |
| New Hampshire | 464 | 565,147 | 464 | 565,147 |
| Iowa | 331 | 556,817 | 331 | 556,817 |
| Idaho | 67 | 475,279 | 67 | 475,279 |
| Utah | 31 | 331,958 | 31 | 331,958 |
| Connecticut | 185 | 309,877 | 185 | 309,877 |
| South Carolina | 40 | 216,518 | 40 | 216,518 |
| Wyoming | 66 | 135,855 | 66 | 135,855 |
| South Dakota | 36 | 109,997 | 36 | 109,997 |
| Kentucky | 4 | 78,591 | 4 | 78,591 |
| Indiana | 26 | 73,943 | 26 | 73,943 |
| Ohio | 53 | 65,686 | 53 | 65,686 |
| Rhode Island | 8 | 62,723 | 8 | 62,723 |
| Colorado | 1 | 29,500 | 1 | 29,500 |
| Vermont | 44 | 21,673 | 44 | 21,673 |
| Montana | 41 | 12,687 | 41 | 12,687 |
| Maine | 28 | 7,571 | 28 | 7,571 |
| Delaware | 1 | 6,000 | 1 | 6,000 |
| Total | 7,935 | 91,727,137 | 7,935 | 91,727,137 |
The Most Polluted Communities
7,935 water utilities reported detecting Radium-226 in tap water since 2004, according to EWG's analysis of water quality data supplied by state water agencies
Ranked by highest average Radium-226 level
| Rank | System | Population Served | Positive test results of total reported tests | Average Level (Range) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Millersview Doole Wsc Millersview, TX | 3,958 | 3 of 3 | 13.5 pCi/L (12.8 to 14.7 pCi/L) |
| 2 | City of Paint Rock Paint Rock, TX | 320 | 1 of 1 | 13.1 pCi/L (13.1 pCi/L) |
| 3 | Guthries Sunshine Pk Thonotosassa, FL | 45 | 1 of 1 | 12 pCi/L (12 pCi/L) |
| 4 | Carbon Hill Coal City, IL | 392 | 1 of 1 | 11.9 pCi/L (11.9 pCi/L) |
| 5 | White Tail Ridge Lakes Estates Livingston, TX | 243 | 13 of 13 | 11.39 pCi/L (8.5 to 13.1 pCi/L) |
| 6 | Biggsville Biggsville, IL | 350 | 14 of 14 | 11.2 pCi/L (1.48 to 14.9 pCi/L) |
| 7 | Tempe Wsc Livingston, TX | 1,540 | 4 of 4 | 11.19 pCi/L (4.35 to 14.7 pCi/L) |
| 8 | Autumn Hills Mhp St Peters, MO | 500 | 18 of 18 | 11.18 pCi/L (9.1 to 13.3 pCi/L) |
| 9 | Bigfoot Wsc Bigfoot, TX | 354 | 6 of 6 | 10.9 pCi/L (1.2 to 14.8 pCi/L) |
| 10 | Mary Francis Subdivision El Campo, TX | 1,506 | 10 of 10 | 10.74 pCi/L (6.6 to 14.4 pCi/L) |
Health Based Limits for Radium-226
| 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 |
| California Public Health Goals | Defined by the State of California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) as the level of contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. For acutely toxic substances, levels are set at which scientific evidence indicates that no known or anticipated adverse effects on health will occur, plus an adequate margin-of safety. PHGs for carcinogens or other substances which can cause chronic disease shall be based solely on health effects without regard to cost impacts and shall be set at levels which OEHHA has determined do not pose any significant risk to health. | 0.05 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 |
| 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 Radium-226
| Are tests routinely required for Radium-226 by federal law? | Yes |
| Water suppliers reporting tests for Radium-226 (2004-2009): | 11,778 of 47,576 |
| Average testing rate for water supplier reporting tests (2004-2009): | 0.6 per year |
Violation Summary for Radium-226
Data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency includes the following violations of federal standards for Radium-226 since 2004
| Maximum Contaminant Level Exceedance Violations | 6 |
| Monitoring Violations | 1,613 |
| Reporting Violations | 0 |
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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