National Drinking Water Database

• Read the Research
• Get a Water Filter
• Tips for Safe Water
• FAQs
• EWG Needs Your Help. As little as $5 can help.

Combined Radium (-226 & -228) in Idaho

---

Radium is a radioactive element usually found around uranium deposits. [read more]

Radium Radium is a radioactive element that occurs naturally in many minerals and in groundwater. In humans, radium causes a wide range of health effects, including lung, bone, liver, kidney and brain tumors, leukemia, skin damage and blood damage, due to its capacity to release alpha, beta and gamma radioactive particles. Radium was once used medicinally, and as a paint additive to make semi-luminous paint (Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB) 2002c). A drinking water contaminant fact sheet written by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) notes that exposure to radium in drinking water above the maximum contaminant level (MCL) of five pCi/L may cause cancer (USEPA 2009b).

The Most Polluted Communities in Idaho

80 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	DJ Park Well ID	75	2 of 2	1.95 pCi/L (1.82 to 2.08 pCi/L)
2	M and M Mountain View Subd Em2 ID	54	2 of 2	1.86 pCi/L (0.2 to 3.52 pCi/L)
3	Riverview Acres Water Assn 1 Blackfoot, ID	33	4 of 4	1.81 pCi/L (0.71 to 2.95 pCi/L)
4	City of Whitebird Whitebird, ID	106	2 of 2	1.5 pCi/L (1.32 to 1.68 pCi/L)
5	Bear Island Water Assn Idaho Falls, ID	100	1 of 1	1.47 pCi/L (1.47 pCi/L)
6	City of Potlatch Potlatch, ID	880	2 of 2	1.4 pCi/L (1.3 to 1.5 pCi/L)
7	Caldwell Housing Authority Caldwell, ID	1,100	4 of 4	1.38 pCi/L (0.2 to 4.08 pCi/L)
8	Atlas Acres Hayden, ID	60	3 of 3	1.37 pCi/L (0.2 to 3.4 pCi/L)
9	Capitol Water Corp Boise, ID	7,400	3 of 4	1.35 pCi/L (0 to 2.5 pCi/L)
10	City of Rathdrum Rathdrum, ID	4,600	1 of 1	1.3 pCi/L (1.3 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

Violation Summary for Combined Radium (-226 & -228) in Idaho

There are no violations reported for this contaminant in Idaho