EWG INVESTIGATION

Findings

About The Data

News Release

EWG Statement, 03/10/2008

Related News Clips

WHAT'S IN YOUR WATER?

Find Your Water Company

NATIONAL SUMMARY

Quality Varies Across the U.S.

CONTAMINANTS DATABASE

Find a Contaminant

Credits

Sign up to receive email updates from EWG

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

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

Sources of Alpha particle activity (incl. radon & 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 (incl. radon & uranium) tests reported by 1,960 public water suppliers in 6 states shows that between 1998 and 2003, 2.5 million people in 1,595 communities drank water contaminated with Alpha particle activity (incl. radon & uranium).

Exposure Summary

2,513,702 People drinking water contaminated with Alpha particle activity (incl. radon & uranium) 1,595 Communities served water contaminated with Alpha particle activity (incl. radon & uranium)

Table. Alpha particle activity (incl. radon & uranium) Exposure by State

2.5 million Americans in 6 states were served tap water contaminated with Alpha particle activity (incl. radon & uranium) between 1998 and 2003.

State	Water suppliers with Alpha particle activity (incl. radon & uranium) contamination
	Systems	Population
Iowa	677	1,234,498
Idaho	635	857,540
Arizona	3	180,970
Virginia	161	172,390
Nebraska	89	53,624
Florida	30	14,680
Total	1,595	2,513,702

Table. The most polluted communities

2.5 million Americans in 1,595 communities were served tap water contaminated with Alpha particle activity (incl. radon & uranium) between 1998 and 2003

Ranked by highest average Alpha particle activity (incl. radon & uranium) level

Rank	System	Population Served	Positive test results of total reported tests	Average Level (Range)
1	Ali Meridian Heights Wsa Boise, ID	790	1 of 1	91.7 pCi/L (91.7 to 91.7 pCi/L)
2	Franklin Domestic Water Users Boise, ID	75	1 of 1	66.3 pCi/L (66.3 to 66.3 pCi/L)
3	Elm Grove Trailer Park Meridian, ID	60	5 of 5	65.96 pCi/L (54.5 to 84.4 pCi/L)
4	Shari Hill Estates Marsing, ID	27	1 of 1	61.4 pCi/L (61.4 to 61.4 pCi/L)
5	Desert View Estates Water Corp Kuna, ID	650	3 of 3	56 pCi/L (44 to 73.6 pCi/L)
6	Country Style Trailer Court 1 Nampa, ID	54	1 of 1	52.3 pCi/L (52.3 to 52.3 pCi/L)
7	Em2 Grouse Point Water Company Llc Boise, ID	25	2 of 2	48.65 pCi/L (44.4 to 52.9 pCi/L)
8	The Fairways Caldwell, ID	56	2 of 2	47.05 pCi/L (24.4 to 69.7 pCi/L)
9	Rich Subd Middleton, ID	60	1 of 1	46.1 pCi/L (46.1 to 46.1 pCi/L)
10	Leisure Lane Meridian, ID	26	1 of 1	43.5 pCi/L (43.5 to 43.5 pCi/L)

  Next -->

Health based limits for Alpha particle activity (incl. radon & 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.

Testing Summary for Alpha particle activity (incl. radon & uranium)

Water suppliers report an average of 0.2 Alpha particle activity (incl. radon & uranium) tests per year. 37,791 water suppliers failed to report any Alpha particle activity (incl. radon & uranium) tests at all.

Are tests routinely required for Alpha particle activity (incl. radon & uranium) by federal law? Yes Water suppliers reporting tests for Alpha particle activity (incl. radon & uranium) (1998-2003): 1,960 of 39,751 Average testing rate for water supplier reporting tests (1998-2003): 0.2 per year

Alpha particle activity (incl. radon & uranium) Violations

Table. < 0.1 percent of all water suppliers violated safe drinking water standards for Alpha particle activity (incl. radon & uranium) between 1998 and 2003

Violation Type	Violations	Systems
Any Violation (1998-2003)	11	10
	(< 0.1% of all suppliers)
Testing violations (1998-2003)	8	7
	(< 0.1% of all suppliers)
Violations of tap water pollution standards (1998-2003)	3	3
	(< 0.1% of all suppliers)