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EWG Statement, 03/10/2008

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NATIONAL SUMMARY

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

Radium-228 is a radioactive element usually found around uranium deposits. Potential health impacts associated with Radium-228 include cancer. [read more]

Sources of Radium-228:

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

An Environmental Working Group analysis of Radium-228 tests reported by 8,315 public water suppliers in 28 states shows that between 1998 and 2003, 50.0 million people in 3,325 communities drank water contaminated with Radium-228. In 52 of these communities, tap water was contaminated at levels above health-based thresholds.

Exposure Summary

49,988,476 People drinking water contaminated with Radium-228 3,325 Communities served water contaminated with Radium-228 130,784 People drinking water contaminated with Radium-228 over health based limits 52 Communities served water with Radium-228 above health based limits

Table. Radium-228 Exposure by State

131 thousand Americans in 13 states were served tap water contaminated with Radium-228 at levels above health-based limits between 1998 and 2003.

State	Water suppliers with Radium-228 contamination		Water suppliers reporting Radium-228 above health-based limits
	Systems	Population	Systems	Population
Wisconsin	260	1,142,160	6	87,479
Texas	527	2,253,832	13	19,058
New York	42	113,778	2	12,981
Colorado	90	1,371,700	14	5,326
Illinois	66	261,160	4	3,383
Missouri	55	175,009	4	810
Minnesota	310	1,210,878	3	623
Montana	31	16,296	1	486
Idaho	16	24,915	1	300
Wyoming	4	511	1	100
North Carolina	5	66,154	1	98
Virginia	481	2,720,657	1	80
Massachusetts	4	18,690	1	60
California	87	26,585,019	0	0
Florida	717	8,814,535	0	0
Arizona	37	2,404,734	0	0
Iowa	308	840,253	0	0
Tennessee	29	641,416	0	0
Utah	10	369,878	0	0
Maine	53	284,527	0	0
Rhode Island	34	249,478	0	0
Pennsylvania	79	228,752	0	0
Nebraska	55	108,715	0	0
Indiana	10	62,275	0	0
Nevada	11	18,043	0	0
Ohio	2	3,681	0	0
New Mexico	2	1,430	0	0
Total	3,325	49,988,476	52	130,784

Table. The most polluted communities

131,000 Americans in 52 communities were served tap water contaminated with Radium-228 above health based limits between 1998 and 2003

Ranked by highest average Radium-228 level

Rank	System	Population Served	Positive test results of total reported tests	Average Level (Range)
1	Millersview Doole Water Supply Commissio Millersview, TX	3,958	2 of 2	50.6 pCi/L (43.1 to 58.1 pCi/L)
2	Richland Sud Brady Richland Springs, TX	5,433	2 of 2	22 pCi/L (15.4 to 28.6 pCi/L)
3	Tow Village Property Owners Association Tow, TX	102	2 of 2	21.05 pCi/L (19.7 to 22.4 pCi/L)
4	South Silver Creek I Ii & Iii Austin, TX	303	4 of 4	17.93 pCi/L (11.3 to 34.3 pCi/L)
5	Homestead Improve Association Inc. La Junta, CO	60	9 of 9	17.56 pCi/L (16 to 21 pCi/L)
6	Brady Lake Water System Brady, TX	167	1 of 1	15.8 pCi/L (15.8 to 15.8 pCi/L)
7	Patterson Valley Wc Rocky Ford, CO	90	10 of 10	14.91 pCi/L (11 to 20 pCi/L)
8	Birch Creek Estates De Pere, WI	41	4 of 5	12.8 pCi/L (0 to 16 pCi/L)
9	North San Saba Water Supply Commission San Saba, TX	741	4 of 4	12.68 pCi/L (4.4 to 21.4 pCi/L)
10	City of Brady Brady, TX	5,433	5 of 5	11.58 pCi/L (4.4 to 23.8 pCi/L)

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Health based limits for Radium-228

Health Limit	Limit Value	Limit Description
Maximum Contaminant Limit (MCL)	5 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 (MCL)	5 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.

Testing Summary for Radium-228

Water suppliers report an average of 0.3 Radium-228 tests per year. 31,436 water suppliers failed to report any Radium-228 tests at all.

Are tests routinely required for Radium-228 by federal law? Yes Water suppliers reporting tests for Radium-228 (1998-2003): 8,315 of 39,751 Average testing rate for water supplier reporting tests (1998-2003): 0.3 per year

Radium-228 Violations

Table. 0.3 percent of all water suppliers violated safe drinking water standards for Radium-228 between 1998 and 2003

Violation Type	Violations	Systems
Any Violation (1998-2003)	223	157
	(0.3% of all suppliers)
Testing violations (1998-2003)	207	151
	(0.3% of all suppliers)
Violations of tap water pollution standards (1998-2003)	16	8
	(< 0.1% of all suppliers)