Strontium

Northwest Utilities

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.

MORE ABOUT THIS CONTAMINANT

Samples

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

Year	Average result	Samples taken	Detections	Range of results
2013	0.377 ppb	6	6	0.200 ppb - 0.480 ppb
2014	0.281 ppb	18	18	0.160 ppb - 0.540 ppb
2015	N/A	0	0	N/A
2016	N/A	0	0	N/A
2017	N/A	0	0	N/A
2018	N/A	0	0	N/A
2019	N/A	0	0	N/A

ppb = parts per billion

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

EWG Health Guideline 1,500 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 1,500 ppb for strontium was defined by the Environmental Protection Agency as a benchmark for testing under the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule program. This health guideline protects against harm to bones.

ppb = parts per billion

All test results

Date	Result
2013-10-23	0.200 ppb
2013-10-23	0.460 ppb
2013-10-23	0.210 ppb
2013-10-23	0.480 ppb
2013-10-23	0.440 ppb
2013-10-23	0.470 ppb
2014-01-14	0.160 ppb
2014-01-14	0.230 ppb
2014-01-14	0.410 ppb
2014-01-14	0.220 ppb
2014-01-14	0.420 ppb
2014-01-14	0.160 ppb
2014-04-29	0.190 ppb
2014-04-29	0.230 ppb
2014-04-29	0.370 ppb
2014-04-29	0.160 ppb
2014-04-29	0.280 ppb
2014-04-30	0.290 ppb
2014-07-14	0.270 ppb
2014-07-14	0.480 ppb
2014-07-14	0.310 ppb
2014-07-14	0.180 ppb
2014-07-14	0.540 ppb
2014-08-20	0.160 ppb