Strontium-90
Millersview-doole Water Supply Corporation
Strontium is a metal that accumulates in the bones. Radioactive strontium-90 can cause bone cancer and leukemia, and any form of strontium at high doses can harm bone health. Read More.
Strontium-90 has been emitted widely by nuclear power plants, weapons facilities, waste sites and nuclear research facilities. Strontium-90 is structurally similar to calcium and is thus taken up into bones. The chief health concerns from strontium-90 exposure are bone cancer and leukemia.
No federal drinking water standards for strontium-90 exist. California set a legal maximum of 8 picocuries of strontium-90 radioactivity per liter of water. California also has a public health goal of no more than 0.35 picocuries of strontium-90 per liter of drinking water. According to studies by the U.S. Geological Survey, strontium-90 also is a concern for water quality in private wells.
Samples
Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)
Samples exceeding
health guidelines
Testing results - average by year
| Year | Average result | Samples taken | Detections | Range of results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 0.30 pCi/L | 8 | 1 | ND - 2.40 pCi/L |
| 2015 | ND | 8 | 0 | ND |
| 2016 | ND | 8 | 0 | ND |
| 2017 | ND | 4 | 0 | ND |
| 2018 | ND | 4 | 0 | ND |
| 2019 | ND | 5 | 0 | ND |
pCi/L = picocuries per liter
State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines
EWG Health Guideline 0.35 pCi/L
The EWG Health Guideline of 0.35 pCi/L for strontium-90 was defined by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment as a public health goal, the level of a drinking water contaminant that does not pose a significant health risk. This health guideline protects against cancer.
pCi/L = picocuries per liter
All test results
| Date | Lab ID | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2014-02-27 | AC44987 | ND |
| 2014-02-27 | AC44986 | ND |
| 2014-04-22 | AC51343 | ND |
| 2014-04-22 | AC51342 | ND |
| 2014-09-17 | AC67251 | 2.40 pCi/L |
| 2014-09-17 | AC67250 | ND |
| 2014-11-18 | AC72630 | ND |
| 2014-11-18 | AC72632 | ND |
| 2015-02-03 | AC79425 | ND |
| 2015-02-03 | AC79426 | ND |
| 2015-05-19 | AC92510 | ND |
| 2015-05-19 | AC92511 | ND |
| 2015-09-28 | AD08870 | ND |
| 2015-09-28 | AD08871 | ND |
| 2015-11-03 | AD12319 | ND |
| 2015-11-03 | AD12320 | ND |
| 2016-02-17 | AD24236 | ND |
| 2016-02-17 | AD24237 | ND |
| 2016-05-18 | AD37194 | ND |
| 2016-05-18 | AD37193 | ND |
| 2016-07-21 | AD45146 | ND |
| 2016-07-21 | AD45147 | ND |
| 2016-12-01 | AD59811 | ND |
| 2016-12-01 | AD59812 | ND |
| 2017-03-01 | AD73059 | ND |
| 2017-05-17 | AD84797 | ND |
| 2017-07-27 | AD91029 | ND |
| 2017-11-02 | AE03388 | ND |
| 2018-02-22 | AE14995 | ND |
| 2018-05-15 | AE26327 | ND |
| 2018-07-18 | AE33707 | ND |
| 2018-11-13 | AE46204 | ND |
| 2019-03-07 | AE57559 | ND |
| 2019-05-08 | AE65367 | ND |
| 2019-08-01 | AE76746 | ND |
| 2019-08-01 | AE76745 | ND |
| 2019-12-11 | AE92107 | ND |