EWG INVESTIGATION

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EWG Statement, 03/10/2008

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Status: Regulated - EPA has established a maximum legal limit in tapwater for this contaminant.

Alpha particle activity (excl radon and uranium) is a from mining waste pollutants and natural sources. No information on potential health impacts for Alpha particle activity (excl radon and uranium) was identified in standard government and academic sources. [read more]

Sources of Alpha particle activity (excl radon and uranium):

	Industry
	Naturally Occurring (naturally present but increased for lands denuded by sprawl, agriculture, or industrial development)

An Environmental Working Group analysis of Alpha particle activity (excl radon and uranium) tests reported by 11,733 public water suppliers in 28 states shows that between 1998 and 2003, 48.5 million people in 7,738 communities drank water contaminated with Alpha particle activity (excl radon and uranium). In 219 of these communities, tap water was contaminated at levels above health-based thresholds.

Exposure Summary

48,534,626 People drinking water contaminated with Alpha particle activity (excl radon and uranium) 7,738 Communities served water contaminated with Alpha particle activity (excl radon and uranium) 296,169 People drinking water contaminated with Alpha particle activity (excl radon and uranium) over health based limits 219 Communities served water with Alpha particle activity (excl radon and uranium) above health based limits

Table. Alpha particle activity (excl radon and uranium) Exposure by State

296 thousand Americans in 15 states were served tap water contaminated with Alpha particle activity (excl radon and uranium) at levels above health-based limits between 1998 and 2003.

State	Water suppliers with Alpha particle activity (excl radon and uranium) contamination		Water suppliers reporting Alpha particle activity (excl radon and uranium) above health-based limits
	Systems	Population	Systems	Population
Texas	1,316	5,180,533	109	199,418
Nebraska	88	632,613	8	44,669
Iowa	22	44,018	11	22,388
Idaho	449	721,321	27	9,458
Illinois	11	84,161	3	6,453
Colorado	517	2,402,351	15	4,145
Maine	315	548,823	23	3,759
Pennsylvania	797	5,662,029	4	3,593
Florida	1,603	14,716,480	5	790
North Carolina	65	73,393	7	467
Montana	106	68,445	3	315
Arizona	551	4,603,357	1	304
Wyoming	66	81,445	1	254
Virginia	353	672,641	1	121
Nevada	37	561,027	1	35
Indiana	765	4,187,944	0	0
Tennessee	305	3,850,626	0	0
Kentucky	214	2,779,201	0	0
Alabama	78	1,436,543	0	0
Oregon	58	184,639	0	0
New Mexico	1	27,000	0	0
Alaska	10	11,711	0	0
New York	9	2,500	0	0
West Virginia	2	1,825	0	0
Total	7,738	48,534,626	219	296,169

Table. The most polluted communities

296,000 Americans in 219 communities were served tap water contaminated with Alpha particle activity (excl radon and uranium) above health based limits between 1998 and 2003

Ranked by highest average Alpha particle activity (excl radon and uranium) level

Rank	System	Population Served	Positive test results of total reported tests	Average Level (Range)
1	Fort Jackson Mobile Estates Lubbock, TX	70	1 of 1	205.1 pCi/L (205.1 to 205.1 pCi/L)
2	Range Pond Apts Poland Spring Cumberland, ME	38	3 of 3	197.5 pCi/L (184.39 to 215.12 pCi/L)
3	Northern Spring Park Poland, ME	75	3 of 3	188.27 pCi/L (4.34 to 299.79 pCi/L)
4	Stonington Water Company Stonington, ME	603	5 of 5	154.25 pCi/L (14 to 254 pCi/L)
5	Gaslight Square Mobile Home Park Canutillo, TX	669	2 of 2	134.45 pCi/L (126 to 142.9 pCi/L)
6	Auburn Hills S / D Cary, NC	66	13 of 13	127.57 pCi/L (4.25 to 205.6 pCi/L)
7	Ali Meridian Heights Wsa Boise, ID	790	1 of 1	91.7 pCi/L (91.7 to 91.7 pCi/L)
8	Millersview Doole Water Supply Commissio Millersview, TX	3,958	1 of 1	91.3 pCi/L (91.3 to 91.3 pCi/L)
9	Waldoboro Water Department Rockport, ME	1,000	6 of 6	88.39 pCi/L (46.84 to 220.69 pCi/L)
10	Indian Hills Estates Water System LIVINGSTON, TX	942	1 of 1	80.3 pCi/L (80.3 to 80.3 pCi/L)

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Health based limits for Alpha particle activity (excl radon and uranium)

Health Limit	Limit Value	Limit Description
Maximum Contaminant Limit (MCL)	15 pCi/L	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.
Maximum Contaminant Limit Goal (MCLG)	0 pCi/L	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.
One in ten thousand (10-4) Cancer Risk	15 pCi/L	The concentration of a chemical in drinking water corresponding to an excess estimated lifetime cancer risk of 1 in 10,000. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Testing Summary for Alpha particle activity (excl radon and uranium)

Water suppliers report an average of 0.3 Alpha particle activity (excl radon and uranium) tests per year. 28,018 water suppliers failed to report any Alpha particle activity (excl radon and uranium) tests at all.

Are tests routinely required for Alpha particle activity (excl radon and uranium) by federal law? Yes Water suppliers reporting tests for Alpha particle activity (excl radon and uranium) (1998-2003): 11,733 of 39,751 Average testing rate for water supplier reporting tests (1998-2003): 0.3 per year

Alpha particle activity (excl radon and uranium) Violations

Table. 3.1 percent of all water suppliers violated safe drinking water standards for Alpha particle activity (excl radon and uranium) between 1998 and 2003

Violation Type	Violations	Systems
Any Violation (1998-2003)	2,424	1,752
	(3.1% of all suppliers)
Testing violations (1998-2003)	1,891	1,513
	(2.7% of all suppliers)
Reporting violations (1998-2003)	11	5
	(< 0.1% of all suppliers)
Violations of tap water pollution standards (1998-2003)	522	294
	(0.5% of all suppliers)