Strontium-90
Connecticut Correctional Institute
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.
Testing results - average by year
Year | Average result | Samples taken | Detections | Range of results |
---|---|---|---|---|
2014 | ND | 1 | 0 | ND |
2015 | ND | 1 | 0 | ND |
2016 | ND | 1 | 0 | ND |
2017 | 1.07 pCi/L | 1 | 1 | 1.07 pCi/L |
2018 | ND | 1 | 0 | ND |
2019 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A |
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 |
---|---|---|
2014-04-10 | E404A54-1RADB | ND |
2015-04-17 | E504G26-1RADB | ND |
2016-04-12 | E604D17-1RADB | ND |
2017-10-03 | 305617GE | 1.07 pCi/L |
2018-01-16 | 308611GE | ND |