Illinois Environmental Protection Agency fact sheet for radionuclides in drinking water PDF
Preview Illinois Environmental Protection Agency fact sheet for radionuclides in drinking water
363.61 IL6x UNIVERSITYOF ILLINOIS LIBRARY AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN BOOKSTACKS <oJ L> 43443 4f4l4l4?4l4l4l4l4l4l4l4l4?4?4!4!4l4l4l4l4l4l4l4?4f4l4l4?4l4?4l4l 4343 4 43 4 41 4 Illinois Environmental Protection Agency 41 41 Fact Sheet for Radionuclides in Drinking Water 41 41 41 41 41 it To ensure that all customers of community water systems receive water that meets the 41 41 maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for radionuclides, USEPA has revised the 1976 43 radionuclides regulation. USEPA also has publicized a new 30 ug/L standard for 41 43 uranium. The other standards are: a combined standard for radium-226 and radium- 43 41 228 of 5 pCi/L; a gross alpha standard for all alpha emitters of 15 pCi/L (not including 43 41 radon and uranium); and a standard of 4 mrem/year for beta particle and photon 41 41 radioactivity which applies only to supplies vulnerable to this type of contamination. 43 43 43 Another provision of the rule requires that monitoring be performed such that all water 41 43 entering the distribution system is tested for radionuclides. Under the old rule, 43 43 community water systems only tested water from “representative points” in the 43 43 distribution system. The old monitoring requirements did not protect every customer, 41 43 since water quality may vary throughout the distribution system. 41 43 41 41 The rule currently applies to all community water systems, which are water systems with 43 at least 15 service connections or that serve 25 or more persons year-round. 43 41 43 What are radionuclides? 4! 41 41 Radionuclides are unstable chemical compounds. As these compounds stabilize, they 43 emit particles and/or “ionizing” radiation of varying degrees (alpha, beta, or the most 43 n 41 powerful gamma emission). There are approximately 2,000 known radionuclides. 43 Generally, these can be classified in two categories: naturally occurring and man-made. 41 41 41 43 The radionuclides found in Illinois wells are naturally occurring, and are largely alpha 41 43 emitters with some beta emitters. The most significant natural radionuclides in Illinois 43 43 drinking water (determined by occurrence and potential to cause adverse health effects) 41 are radium-226 and radium-228. Occasionally, other alpha emitting radionuclides are 43 41 found in drinking water. 4 43 ! 4%1 Why do radionuclides occur in drinking water? 41 41 Certain rock formations contain naturally occurring radionuclides. In Illinois, they are 443 mainly found in deep bedrock aquifers in Northern Illinois. Over time, these radioactive 41 elements dissolve into water that is also pumped for drinking. 43 41 43 41 Most drinking water sources have very low levels of radioactive contaminants 41 4! (“radionuclides”). These very low levels are not considered to be a public health 41 a concern. Of the small percentage of drinking water systems with radionuclides 4 exceeding the MCL’s, most of the radioactivity is naturally occurring. Some parts of the 41 43 mid-West, including Illinois, have significantly higher than average combined radium- 43 43 226 and radium-228 levels. 41 depository 43 43 41 APR 43 0 5 2002 4! 43 UNIVERSITYOF ILLINOIS 41 ATURBANA-CHAMPAIGN 43 44444444444444444444444444444444 41 414141 4343 I*****!********#***#*#** UNIVERSITYOFILLINOIS URBANA % % 3 0 12 042551975 What are the health effects? During decay, all radionuclides emit "ionizing radiation,” a known human carcinogen. % Long-term exposure to this radiation in drinking water may cause cancer. Short-term * exposure to naturally occurring radionuclides poses little or no health risk at levels found 4 in Illinois drinking water. Exposure to uranium in drinking water may cause toxic kidney ! % effects. In Illinois, we do not anticipate having any water supplies exceed the uranium $ MCL. 1 Can radionuclides be removed from a community water system? Supplies that exceed a radionuclide standard are required to reduce the level below acceptable limits. This can be done in a variety or ways, such as: installation of mechanical treatment to remove the radionuclide from the water; blend high-level * radionuclide water with low-level radionuclide water (dilute); connect to another local water supply, or drilling new wells into a radionuclide-free water source. All the options listed above are complex, require a lot of planning and permits, and are usually expensive. Water systems must study each option and determine which is most $ effective, both mechanically and financially for their situation. * How can I find out if my water contains elevated levels of radionuclides? * The concentration of radionuclides in your drinking water is listed in your water supply’s annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR). The CCR is an annual drinking water $ quality report that identifies all the contaminants found in your drinking water. To obtain a copy of your most recent CCR, contact your local water department. In addition, any 4 water supply that exceeds a radionuclide standard is required to issue a quarterly public tf notice to every customer as long as the condition exists. Public notification copies can also be obtained from your local water department. Rule Summary Contaminant MCL Source Health Effect 4r Combined 5 pCi/L Naturally occurs in Some people who drink water containing 4 radium-226/- some drinking water combined radium in excess of the MCL over % 228 sources. many years may have an increased cancer risk. % (Adjusted) 15 pCi/L See above See above Gross Alpha (minus radon * & uranium) * Beta Particle 4 mrem/year Contamination from Some people who drink water containing beta/ * and facilities using or photon emitters in excess of the MCL over many * Photon producing radioactive years may have an increased cancer risk. Radioactivity materials. Uranium (an 30 pg/L Naturally occurs in Exposure may result in toxic effects to the alpha some drinking water kidney. Some people who drink water emitter) sources. containing uranium in excess of the MCL over many years may have an increased cancer risk. * * For more information contact: IL EPA Drinking Water Compliance Unit at 217-785- 4 0561, USEPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791 or website $ www.epa.gov/safewater/rads/implement.html. Printed by Authority of * the State of Illinois % Nov-2001 31964 250
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