Radium, combined (-226 & -228)
Status: National drinking water standard exists
Radium is a radioactive element that causes bone cancer and other cancers. It can occur naturally in groundwater, and oil and gas extraction activities such as hydraulic fracturing can elevate concentrations. Read More.
Radium releases radioactive particles that harm health in many ways, causing tumors in bone, lungs and other organs; leukemia; and skin and blood damage. Water utilities typically report radium amounts in picocuries per liter (pCi/L), which is a measure of radioactivity in water. The two most common forms of radium are radium-226 and radium-228. They may be reported separately or together.
Federal law allows up to 5 picocuries per liter of combined radium-226 and radium-228 in tap water. Research by the U.S. Geological Survey shows that in some regions of the country, such as the mid-continental region and North Atlantic coastal region, more than 20 percent of sampled wells have radium in levels exceeding the federal drinking water limit. And the legal limit does not equate safety: The EPA estimates that one in every 10,000 people drinking water containing radium at this level would develop cancer over a lifetime.
California set a public health goal much lower than the federal limit - 0.019 picocuries per liter of radium-226 and 0.05 picocuries per liter of radium-228, concentrations that are lower than the detection limit for most water tests.
2010-2015:
50
states detected
22,411
utilities detected
155 million
people served
50
states over health guideline
22,008
utilities over health guideline
152 million
people served over health guideline
30
states over legal limit
166
utilities over legal limit
307,000
people served over legal limit
Health concerns for radium, combined (-226 & -228)
Cancer
State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines
Health Guideline 0.05 pCi/L
The health guideline of 0.05 pCi/L for radium, combined (-226 & -228) was defined by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment as . This health guideline protects against cancer.
pCi/L = picocuries per liter.
EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL) 5 pCi/L
The enforceable federal standard that defines the highest level of a contaminant allowed in drinking water.
pCi/L = picocuries per liter.
EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level Goal (MCLG)0 pCi/L
A non-enforceable federal health guideline. For cancer-causing chemicals, these health goals are typically set to zero.
pCi/L = picocuries per liter.
States reporting radium, combined (-226 & -228) in drinking water
| UTILITIES REPORTING ABOVE HEALTH GUIDELINES | UTILITIES WITH CONTAMINATION | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | Utilities | People Served | Utilities | People Served | |||
| Texas | 3,493 | 22,552,392 | 3,493 | 22,552,392 | |||
| Florida | 813 | 13,923,406 | 822 | 14,144,704 | |||
| Illinois | 1,416 | 10,222,420 | 1,416 | 10,222,420 | |||
| Massachusetts | 429 | 8,484,308 | 435 | 8,542,655 | |||
| New York | 814 | 7,330,424 | 832 | 7,368,651 | |||
| California | 184 | 5,658,938 | 219 | 6,304,390 | |||
| Pennsylvania | 548 | 5,411,803 | 560 | 5,550,439 | |||
| Michigan | 655 | 5,214,385 | 659 | 5,219,971 | |||
| Arizona | 253 | 3,745,181 | 263 | 5,008,264 | |||
| Colorado | 525 | 4,655,279 | 540 | 4,675,104 | |||
| Virginia | 630 | 4,423,730 | 638 | 4,425,146 | |||
| Tennessee | 288 | 4,186,755 | 289 | 4,226,947 | |||
| Alabama | 318 | 3,746,948 | 326 | 3,812,935 | |||
| Wisconsin | 914 | 3,728,618 | 918 | 3,730,019 | |||
| Ohio | 385 | 3,519,655 | 394 | 3,591,314 | |||
| Kentucky | 309 | 3,552,104 | 310 | 3,570,104 | |||
| Georgia | 517 | 3,411,466 | 517 | 3,411,466 | |||
| Maryland | 149 | 2,905,222 | 150 | 2,905,267 | |||
| Utah | 340 | 2,766,653 | 345 | 2,767,617 | |||
| Nevada | 108 | 2,491,608 | 109 | 2,494,608 | |||
| Minnesota | 428 | 2,174,440 | 428 | 2,174,440 | |||
| North Carolina | 717 | 2,158,902 | 717 | 2,158,902 | |||
| New Jersey | 180 | 1,991,048 | 180 | 1,991,048 | |||
| New Mexico | 427 | 1,645,342 | 486 | 1,808,395 | |||
| Louisiana | 180 | 1,750,733 | 182 | 1,757,336 | |||
| Oklahoma | 629 | 1,668,629 | 640 | 1,679,179 | |||
| Kansas | 500 | 1,618,175 | 504 | 1,618,878 | |||
| Nebraska | 481 | 1,509,539 | 483 | 1,510,064 | |||
| Iowa | 596 | 1,364,039 | 604 | 1,498,290 | |||
| West Virginia | 339 | 1,234,106 | 348 | 1,250,002 | |||
| Arkansas | 374 | 1,234,842 | 383 | 1,247,060 | |||
| Missouri | 410 | 1,078,980 | 411 | 1,086,375 | |||
| Indiana | 49 | 1,084,853 | 49 | 1,084,853 | |||
| Mississippi | 259 | 913,283 | 281 | 1,073,148 | |||
| Washington | 370 | 1,059,318 | 381 | 1,068,467 | |||
| Connecticut | 153 | 1,039,862 | 155 | 1,042,475 | |||
| Idaho | 282 | 1,011,285 | 291 | 1,015,782 | |||
| Delaware | 207 | 969,031 | 209 | 976,516 | |||
| Oregon | 208 | 759,876 | 208 | 759,876 | |||
| South Carolina | 148 | 537,987 | 155 | 662,838 | |||
| New Hampshire | 466 | 639,994 | 477 | 656,050 | |||
| Maine | 270 | 425,297 | 276 | 429,868 | |||
| Wyoming | 240 | 406,143 | 243 | 407,151 | |||
| North Dakota | 177 | 390,114 | 177 | 390,114 | |||
| Montana | 260 | 264,107 | 323 | 362,612 | |||
| Vermont | 245 | 341,133 | 246 | 341,373 | |||
| Alaska | 169 | 183,735 | 176 | 188,178 | |||
| South Dakota | 136 | 183,373 | 143 | 184,821 | |||
| Rhode Island | 19 | 66,545 | 19 | 66,545 | |||
| Hawaii | 1 | 270 | 1 | 270 | |||
Utilities with the highest amounts of radium, combined (-226 & -228), 2010-2015
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fayette Water Company | Manzanola, CO | 2 of 2 | 14.20 pCi/L | 75 |
| Country Acres Mobile Home Park (la Salle County) | Des Plaines, IL | 1 of 1 | 13.10 pCi/L | 295 |
| Valley Water Company | Manzanola, CO | 11 of 11 | 12.96 pCi/L | 270 |
| Live Oak Hills Subdivision | Llano, TX | 22 of 22 | 12.65 pCi/L | 60 |
| Cws Peachtree Acres | West Columbia, SC | 2 of 2 | 12.60 pCi/L | 138 |
| Eureka Water Company | Swink, CO | 4 of 4 | 12.48 pCi/L | 498 |
| Vroman Water Company | Manzanola, CO | 6 of 6 | 12.45 pCi/L | 125 |
| Ranch Water Service Inc. | Kingman, AZ | 16 of 16 | 12.11 pCi/L | 135 |
| South Swink Water Company | La Junta, CO | 9 of 9 | 12.01 pCi/L | 600 |
| South Silver Creek I II & III | Austin, TX | 4 of 4 | 11.73 pCi/L | 249 |
| Conroe Oaks | Katy, TX | 17 of 17 | 11.52 pCi/L | 90 |
| Farmington* | Farmington, MO | 1 of 1 | 11.50 pCi/L | 16,318 |
| Mountain Top Ws | Warm Springs, GA | 2 of 2 | 10.58 pCi/L | 117 |
| Signal Mountain Ranch Property Owners Water Company | Beulah, CO | 10 of 10 | 10.41 pCi/L | 66 |
| Marshview Terrace | Waupun, WI | 4 of 4 | 10.07 pCi/L | 40 |
| Ransom | Ransom, IL | 21 of 21 | 9.82 pCi/L | 483 |
| Lake Texoma Vfw Post 7873 | Pottsboro, TX | 24 of 24 | 9.73 pCi/L | 114 |
| Scarborough Gardens | Portland, ME | 1 of 1 | 9.55 pCi/L | 45 |
| City of Brady Water System* | Brady, TX | 59 of 59 | 9.25 pCi/L | 5,500 |
| Lakeland Services | Brady, TX | 10 of 10 | 9.07 pCi/L | 58 |
| Vista Verde Water Systems | Kirbyville, TX | 24 of 24 | 9.07 pCi/L | 111 |
| North Holbrook Water Company | Rocky Ford, CO | 6 of 6 | 9.05 pCi/L | 75 |
| Holbrook Center Soft Wa | La Junta, CO | 6 of 6 | 8.78 pCi/L | 51 |
| Rockville Pipeline Company | Rockville, UT | 1 of 1 | 8.60 pCi/L | 240 |
| City of Melvin | Melvin, TX | 30 of 30 | 8.52 pCi/L | 300 |
| Terre Du Lac | Bonne Terre, MO | 18 of 18 | 8.28 pCi/L | 3,217 |
| Willowbank Colony | Edgeley, ND | 1 of 1 | 8.21 pCi/L | 95 |
| Pinwah Pines Estates | Pflugerville, TX | 16 of 16 | 7.96 pCi/L | 142 |
| Highland Court | Dallas, TX | 17 of 17 | 7.95 pCi/L | 90 |
| Welch Public Works Authority | Welch, OK | 24 of 24 | 7.93 pCi/L | 800 |
* This water utility supplies finished drinking water to at least one other water utility. The purchasing utility is not required to test for or report Radium, combined (-226 & -228), but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Farmington* | Farmington, MO | 1 of 1 | 11.50 pCi/L | 16,318 |
| Allouez Waterworks | Green Bay, WI | 2 of 2 | 7.89 pCi/L | 13,932 |
| Andover | Andover, MN | 15 of 16 | 7.14 pCi/L | 19,310 |
| Bellevue Waterworks | Green Bay, WI | 1 of 2 | 7.08 pCi/L | 14,800 |
| Franklin Water Utility | Franklin, WI | 1 of 1 | 6.56 pCi/L | 22,500 |
| Delta Charter Township | Lansing, MI | 21 of 21 | 6.39 pCi/L | 22,000 |
| Ashwaubenon Waterworks* | Green Bay, WI | 3 of 3 | 6.38 pCi/L | 17,730 |
| Waukesha Water Utility | Waukesha, WI | 137 of 137 | 6.16 pCi/L | 70,718 |
| Sussex Village Hall & Water Utility | Sussex, WI | 61 of 61 | 5.25 pCi/L | 10,573 |
| Inver Grove Heights* | Inver Grove Heights, MN | 9 of 9 | 4.97 pCi/L | 34,189 |
| Faribault | Faribault, MN | 1 of 1 | 4.90 pCi/L | 23,415 |
| Moore County Public Util. - Pinehurst* | Carthage, NC | 30 of 30 | 4.72 pCi/L | 19,368 |
| Clark Public Utilities* | Vancouver, WA | 1 of 2 | 4.60 pCi/L | 82,071 |
| Lugoff Elgin Water Authority | Lugoff, SC | 1 of 1 | 4.60 pCi/L | 18,984 |
| Western Springs | Western Springs, IL | 1 of 1 | 4.50 pCi/L | 11,984 |
| Emerald Coast Utilities Authority* | Pensacola, FL | 11 of 11 | 4.45 pCi/L | 249,872 |
| Loves Park | Loves Park, IL | 46 of 46 | 4.36 pCi/L | 22,476 |
| Anoka* | Anoka, MN | 6 of 6 | 4.25 pCi/L | 17,243 |
| Platteville Waterworks | Platteville, WI | 2 of 2 | 4.25 pCi/L | 11,224 |
| Howard Waterworks | Green Bay, WI | 17 of 17 | 4.25 pCi/L | 18,900 |
| Peru | Peru, IL | 7 of 7 | 4.20 pCi/L | 11,000 |
| City of White Settlement | White Settlement, TX | 26 of 26 | 4.20 pCi/L | 15,483 |
| Marion Municipal Water Department* | Marion, IA | 10 of 10 | 4.18 pCi/L | 34,610 |
| Winona | Winona, MN | 3 of 3 | 4.13 pCi/L | 27,782 |
| Montgomery | Montgomery, IL | 12 of 12 | 4.11 pCi/L | 22,576 |
| Milan Water Department | Milan, TN | 2 of 2 | 4.06 pCi/L | 10,289 |
| North Mankato | North Mankato, MN | 11 of 11 | 3.96 pCi/L | 13,462 |
| Virginia-American Water Company* | Alexandria, VA | 1 of 1 | 3.90 pCi/L | 28,000 |
| Apple Valley* | Apple Valley, MN | 2 of 2 | 3.90 pCi/L | 49,895 |
| Whitewater Waterworks | Whitewater, WI | 10 of 10 | 3.84 pCi/L | 14,000 |
* This water utility supplies finished drinking water to at least one other water utility. The purchasing utility is not required to test for or report Radium, combined (-226 & -228), but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.