EWG INVESTIGATION

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EWG Statement, 03/10/2008

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NATIONAL SUMMARY

Quality Varies Across the U.S.

CONTAMINANTS DATABASE

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

Uranium-234 is a radioactive element commonly found in most rocks; processed ore used for power generation and weapons manufature.. Potential health impacts associated with Uranium-234 include cancer. [read more]

Sources of Uranium-234:

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

An Environmental Working Group analysis of Uranium-234 tests reported by 226 public water suppliers in 6 states shows that between 1998 and 2003, 17 thousand people in 13 communities drank water contaminated with Uranium-234.

Exposure Summary

16,970 People drinking water contaminated with Uranium-234 13 Communities served water contaminated with Uranium-234

Table. Uranium-234 Exposure by State

17 thousand Americans in 4 states were served tap water contaminated with Uranium-234 between 1998 and 2003.

State	Water suppliers with Uranium-234 contamination
	Systems	Population
Texas	9	12,600
Arizona	1	3,000
Maine	1	1,000
New York	2	370
Total	13	16,970

Table. The most polluted communities

17,000 Americans in 13 communities were served tap water contaminated with Uranium-234 between 1998 and 2003

Ranked by highest average Uranium-234 level

Rank	System	Population Served	Positive test results of total reported tests	Average Level (Range)
1	Rocky Point B Dallas, TX	117	2 of 2	0.6 pCi/L (0.6 to 0.6 pCi/L)
2	Harris County Municipal Utilities Distri Spring, TX	6,012	1 of 1	0.6 pCi/L (0.6 to 0.6 pCi/L)
3	San Pedro Canyon Water Company Del Rio, TX	90	1 of 1	0.6 pCi/L (0.6 to 0.6 pCi/L)
4	Diamond Head Water Supply Commission Conroe, TX	414	1 of 1	0.6 pCi/L (0.6 to 0.6 pCi/L)
5	Nico Tyme Water Coop Inc. Elmendorf, TX	87	1 of 1	0.5 pCi/L (0.5 to 0.5 pCi/L)
6	Platten Creek Water System Center Point, TX	99	1 of 1	0.5 pCi/L (0.5 to 0.5 pCi/L)
7	Live Oak Hills Subdivision Llano, TX	96	1 of 2	0.5 pCi/L (0.5 to 0.5 pCi/L)
8	Shorehaven Civic Association Holmes, NY	300	2 of 3	0.38 pCi/L (0.29 to 0.48 pCi/L)
9	Hyde Park Terrace Apartments Poughkeepsie, NY	70	1 of 2	0.36 pCi/L (0.36 to 0.36 pCi/L)
10	Gusville Trailer Park Devine, TX	252	1 of 2	0.25 pCi/L (0 to 0.5 pCi/L)

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Health based limits for Uranium-234

Health Limit	Limit Value	Limit Description
Maximum Contaminant Limit (MCL)	0.03 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 Uranium-234

Water suppliers report an average of 0.2 Uranium-234 tests per year. 39,525 water suppliers failed to report any Uranium-234 tests at all.

Are tests routinely required for Uranium-234 by federal law? Yes Water suppliers reporting tests for Uranium-234 (1998-2003): 226 of 39,751 Average testing rate for water supplier reporting tests (1998-2003): 0.2 per year

Uranium-234 Violations

Table. < 0.1 percent of all water suppliers violated safe drinking water standards for Uranium-234 between 1998 and 2003

Violation Type	Violations	Systems
Any Violation (1998-2003)	11	5
	(< 0.1% of all suppliers)
Testing violations (1998-2003)	11	5
	(< 0.1% of all suppliers)