Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Radium, combined (-226 and -228)

Arbor Hills Water Works

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 – 0.05 picocuries per liter of radium-226 and 0.019 picocuries per liter of radium-228, concentrations that are lower than the detection limit for most water tests.

Click here to read more on radiological contaminants.

 

245

Samples

30

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

167

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20181.94 pCi/L5326ND - 16.80 pCi/L
20191.58 pCi/L7128ND - 14.86 pCi/L
20203.78 pCi/L3123ND - 21.10 pCi/L
20213.64 pCi/L31310.44 pCi/L - 24.20 pCi/L
20222.91 pCi/L29290.12 pCi/L - 18.30 pCi/L
20231.78 pCi/L30300.29 pCi/L - 7.00 pCi/L

pCi/L = picocuries per liter

State, National, and Health Guidelines for Drinking Water

EWG Health Guideline: 0.05 pCi/L

EWG applied the health guideline of 0.05 pCi/L, defined by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment as a public health goal for radium-226, to radium-226 and radium-228 combined. This health guideline protects against cancer.

EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL): 5 pCi/L

The legal limit for combined radium-226 and radium-228, established in 1976, was based on costs for radium removal, as calculated at the time that the standard was set. This limit does not fully protect against the risk of cancer due to radium exposure.

pCi/L = picocuries per liter

All test results

Date Lab ID Result
2018-01-10BZ70999-RADSND
2018-01-10BZ70997 RADSND
2018-01-10BZ71000-RADS1.60 pCi/L
2018-01-10BZ70998-RADS1.11 pCi/L
2018-01-10BZ71001-RADS6.10 pCi/L
2018-01-10AY19130-SD-SOCSND
2018-01-1022 DBP POMF BERRYND
2018-01-10701962300041.60 pCi/L
2018-01-10702330430023.56 pCi/L
2018-01-10221222084SOCND
2018-01-10COOP SOC/NIT 21ND
2018-01-10POCS J01446-01ND
2018-01-10SOCS EHS22000332313ND
2018-01-1023E1346-012.54 pCi/L
2018-01-10702225220011.11 pCi/L
2018-04-13CA20076-RADS2.51 pCi/L
2018-04-13CA20079 RADS9.85 pCi/L
2018-04-13CA20075-RADS2.75 pCi/L
2018-04-13CA20077-RADSND
2018-04-13CA20078-RADS4.60 pCi/L
2018-04-1355302952.51 pCi/L
2018-04-13AZ15586-POCS2.61 pCi/L
2018-04-13AZ15966-DBP2ND
2018-04-13702437690047.53 pCi/L
2018-04-13702814110021.99 pCi/L
2018-04-13EHS2200015383-01POC2.75 pCi/L
2018-04-13NCWD POCS 2023-02ND
2018-04-13PFO 23 ROCKYND
2018-04-1370210154007ND
2018-04-13701789910012.32 pCi/L
2018-07-13CA89815-RADSND
2018-07-13CA89814-RADS4.95 pCi/L
2018-07-13CA89816-RADSND
2018-07-13CA89817-RADSND
2018-07-1370196760001ND
2018-07-1370177682013ND
2018-07-13701992240019.95 pCi/L
2018-07-13EHS2200048529-1ND
2018-07-1305022311-2POCND
2018-07-1370156740002-POCS3.40 pCi/L
2018-07-13702502440061.55 pCi/L
2018-07-13AY22942-SOCS16.80 pCi/L
2018-10-12CB71088-RADSND
2018-10-12CB71090-RADSND
2018-10-12CB71087-RADS1.54 pCi/L
2018-10-12CB71089-RADSND
2018-10-12CB71091-RADS3.80 pCi/L
2018-10-12AZ09283-DBP21.31 pCi/L
2018-10-1223H2783ND
2018-10-12810-73393-1RND
2018-10-12BP231638ND
2018-10-1270266469001ND
2018-10-12UW223772-F2.49 pCi/L
2019-01-14CC28593-RADS1.85 pCi/L
2019-01-14CC28594-RADS1.32 pCi/L
2019-01-14CC28590-RADS1.51 pCi/L
2019-01-14CC28592-RADS11.72 pCi/L
2019-01-14CC28591-RADS1.76 pCi/L
2019-01-141.102178-DBP2ND
2019-01-14701935770031.76 pCi/L
2019-01-14EHS2200009739-SR-1SOND
2019-01-14EHS2200032821-01A1.32 pCi/L
2019-01-14FM22PFASND
2019-01-14Q3 21 POC 2A CARROLL1.85 pCi/L
2019-01-14SOCS 23 WILLOW BROOKND
2019-01-14702012540017.45 pCi/L
2019-01-14420-217860-1-SOCS4.27 pCi/L
2019-01-14701688070031.51 pCi/L
2019-04-10CC92293-RADS14.86 pCi/L
2019-04-10CC92289-RADS1.10 pCi/L
2019-04-10CC92290-RADSND
2019-04-10CC92291-RADSND
2019-04-10CC92292-RADSND
2019-04-1070202426001ND
2019-04-1070169683003ND
2019-04-10702166650011.10 pCi/L
2019-04-10EHS2300062256-SR1SOC5.99 pCi/L
2019-04-10POCS 22 HYDE PARKND
2019-04-10702041220088.87 pCi/L
2019-04-1021F1113-07ND
2019-04-1070262819001ND
2019-04-10CA221388ND
2019-07-09CD53129-RADSND
2019-07-09CD53130-RADSND
2019-07-09CD53128-RADSND
2019-07-09CD53132-RADS5.69 pCi/L
2019-07-09CD53131-RADSND
2019-07-09230824731-003-DBPND
2019-07-09AZ16056-INP3.37 pCi/L
2019-07-0923C0792-01PND
2019-07-09AY17000-INSND
2019-07-09420-214562-1SOCND
2019-07-09EHS2100075952-SR-2ND
2019-07-0908302313CND
2019-07-091080242-10ND
2019-07-09702769110022.32 pCi/L
2019-10-02CE25761-RADSND
2019-10-02CE25760-RADSND
2019-10-02CE25762-RADSND
2019-10-02CE25763-RADSND
2019-10-02EHS2300022406-SR-2ND
2019-10-0270260461003ND
2019-10-02C064972-01G-SOCSND
2019-10-02EHS2300034128-0017.90 pCi/L
2019-10-0223F0934-01ND
2019-10-02701909880059.73 pCi/L
2019-10-0270257287002ND
2019-10-0270181791002ND
2019-10-02L2244402-01ND
2019-12-06CE82569-RADSND
2019-12-06CE82568-RADS2.06 pCi/L
2019-12-06CE82571-RADS2.70 pCi/L
2019-12-06CE82567-RADSND
2019-12-06CE82570-RADS2.53 pCi/L
2019-12-062306987-001TTHMHAA5ND
2019-12-06AY11000-NITND
2019-12-06JH2307821ND
2019-12-0670249549007ND
2019-12-06702639560082.06 pCi/L
2019-12-06221213069-001-SOC2.70 pCi/L
2019-12-0623050789RADSND
2019-12-06GCI448631.31 pCi/L
2019-12-0670175591001ND
2019-12-06CA2213901.22 pCi/L
2020-01-15CF13835-RADSND
2020-01-15CF13833-RADSND
2020-01-15CF13834-RADSND
2020-01-15CF13836-RADS1.52 pCi/L
2020-01-15CH19079-0219.50 pCi/L
2020-01-1592590546001_37712ND
2020-04-08CF70936-RADND
2020-04-08CF70937-RADSND
2020-04-08CF70938-RADSND
2020-04-08CF70939-RADS1.23 pCi/L
2020-04-08CF70940-RADS21.10 pCi/L
2020-04-08CB03326-02ND
2020-04-08CB13373-02RE112.70 pCi/L
2020-08-1730378579001-RADS0.78 pCi/L
2020-08-1730378579002-RADS1.25 pCi/L
2020-08-1730378579003-RADS2.41 pCi/L
2020-08-1730378579004-RADS7.28 pCi/L
2020-08-1730378579005-RADS6.39 pCi/L
2020-08-1737729_22-552281.25 pCi/L
2020-08-1737729_23-475537.28 pCi/L
2020-08-1737729_23-475546.39 pCi/L
2020-08-17CE02830-012.41 pCi/L
2020-08-17CE02978-020.37 pCi/L
2020-08-17CE02979-010.42 pCi/L
2020-11-2330394614005-RADS15.56 pCi/L
2020-11-23303094614003-RADS0.86 pCi/L
2020-11-2330394614004-RADS3.95 pCi/L
2020-11-2330394614001-RADS1.29 pCi/L
2020-11-2330394614002-RADS1.01 pCi/L
2020-11-232630-201.29 pCi/L
2020-11-238810-011222-010S1.01 pCi/L
2021-01-0730400613001-RADS3.36 pCi/L
2021-01-2130402775003-RADS2.23 pCi/L
2021-01-2130402775001-RADS1.17 pCi/L
2021-01-2130402775002-RADS1.39 pCi/L
2021-01-212204175-180.44 pCi/L
2021-01-212204175-190.73 pCi/L
2021-01-217149-041619-V01V0.93 pCi/L
2021-01-2192581600001_127101.30 pCi/L
2021-01-21CF02171-021.39 pCi/L
2021-04-1930416898001-RADS2.06 pCi/L
2021-04-1930416898002-RADS1.85 pCi/L
2021-04-1930416898003-RADS1.52 pCi/L
2021-04-1930416898004-RADS24.20 pCi/L
2021-04-198024-040621-E01S9.95 pCi/L
2021-04-19CE02861-022.06 pCi/L
2021-04-19CE03449-011.85 pCi/L
2021-04-19M19-12981-03A15.81 pCi/L
2021-07-2230432712002-RADS1.41 pCi/L
2021-07-223042712004-RADS2.92 pCi/L
2021-07-2230432712001-RADS1.37 pCi/L
2021-07-2230432712003-RADS1.58 pCi/L
2021-07-2241900321.30 pCi/L
2021-07-2237729_23-640971.37 pCi/L
2021-07-2237729_23-640990.52 pCi/L
2021-10-2530448140001-RADS1.51 pCi/L
2021-10-2530448140004-RADS0.75 pCi/L
2021-10-2530448140002-RADS2.40 pCi/L
2021-10-2530448140003-RADS1.38 pCi/L
2021-10-2518-S3450.99 pCi/L
2021-10-2518-S5312.40 pCi/L
2021-10-250G01550-040.84 pCi/L
2022-01-2530461512001-RADS1.43 pCi/L
2022-01-2530461512002-RADS0.74 pCi/L
2022-01-2530461512003-RADS0.86 pCi/L
2022-01-2530461512004-RADS3.08 pCi/L
2022-01-2530461512005-RADS18.30 pCi/L
2022-01-2521-39932-012.81 pCi/L
2022-01-25210912101.01 pCi/L
2022-01-2522-31452-0218.26 pCi/L
2022-01-2521-12642-01C0.12 pCi/L
2022-01-25SDWA-1229407-001.08 pCi/L
2022-06-2230500498001-RADS1.47 pCi/L
2022-06-2230500498002-RADS1.02 pCi/L
2022-06-2230500498003-RADS1.46 pCi/L
2022-06-2230500498004-RADS1.84 pCi/L
2022-06-2222-12706-011.17 pCi/L
2022-06-222206444-031.47 pCi/L
2022-07-2330509375001-RADS0.93 pCi/L
2022-07-2330509375002-RADS1.15 pCi/L
2022-07-2330509375003-RADS1.25 pCi/L
2022-07-2330509375004-RADS1.85 pCi/L
2022-07-23AI137530.73 pCi/L
2022-10-2522J3551-04-RADS1.77 pCi/L
2022-10-2522J3551-01- RADS1.04 pCi/L
2022-10-2522J3551-02-RADS1.67 pCi/L
2022-10-2522J3551-03-RADS9.57 pCi/L
2022-10-2592387415001TTH1.04 pCi/L
2022-10-252320068-020.49 pCi/L
2022-10-252334316-011.28 pCi/L
2022-10-25702452830025.62 pCi/L
2023-01-1923A1937-07-RADS1.16 pCi/L
2023-01-1923A1937-14-RADS1.50 pCi/L
2023-01-1923A1937-22-RADS2.61 pCi/L
2023-01-191I00106-021.16 pCi/L
2023-01-1921090576-01A0.86 pCi/L
2023-01-191I00809-010.64 pCi/L
2023-01-19AI097142.61 pCi/L
2023-01-2423A1937-16-RADS2.61 pCi/L
2023-01-24AI063351.89 pCi/L
2023-01-24AI097140.72 pCi/L
2023-04-2523D2367-01-RADS0.31 pCi/L
2023-04-2523D2367-02-RADS1.96 pCi/L
2023-04-2523D2367-03-RADS1.77 pCi/L
2023-04-2518-S4901.76 pCi/L
2023-04-2519-S11890.73 pCi/L
2023-04-253984481.96 pCi/L
2023-04-254058220.31 pCi/L
2023-04-2520020621-001A0.29 pCi/L
2023-04-2520020621-001B1.48 pCi/L
2023-07-1323G1657-01-RADS1.81 pCi/L
2023-07-1323G1657-03-RADS1.70 pCi/L
2023-07-1323G1657-02-RADS2.40 pCi/L
2023-07-1323G1657-04-RADS1.13 pCi/L
2023-07-1318246942.11 pCi/L
2023-10-1223J1763-02-RADS1.70 pCi/L
2023-10-1223J1763-03-RADS1.65 pCi/L
2023-10-1223J1763-04-RADS2.14 pCi/L
2023-10-1223J1763-05-RADS7.00 pCi/L
2023-10-12102943-013.60 pCi/L
2023-10-1218246951.70 pCi/L