Radon In Well Water Effects

What are the health effects associated with radon.

Radon in well water effects. While most radon related deaths are due to radon gas accumulated in houses from seepage through cracks in the foundation 30 to 1 800 deaths per year are attributed to radon from household water. Currently there is no federally enforced drinking water standard for radon. The epa is proposing that radon levels in drinking water from public systems be below 300 pci l or alternatively below 4000 pci l if a multimedia mitigation plan for indoor air is developed by the state. Drinking water containing radon also presents a risk of developing internal organ cancers primarily stomach cancer.

Only about 1 2 percent of radon in the air comes from drinking water. The who guidelines for drinking water quality 2011 recommend that screening levels for radon in drinking water be set on the basis of the national reference level for radon in air. Radon dissolved in drinking water can be released into indoor air. Some radon stays in the water.

Research indicates there is an increased risk of lung cancer associated with long term exposure to elevated radon levels. As required by the safe drinking water act epa has developed a proposed regulation to reduce radon in drinking water that has a multimedia mitigation option to reduce radon in indoor air. Water from wells usually has higher concentrations of radon than does surface water such as lakes and streams. High levels of dissolved radon are found in the groundwater in some areas flowing through granite or granitic sand and gravel formations.

For example a water well containing 2 000 pci l of radon would be expected to contribute 0 2 pci l to the indoor air radon concentration. Ground water moves through rock containing natural uranium that releases radon into the water. However breathing radon increases the risk of lung cancer over the course of your lifetime. Radon exposure can happen in any type of home whether it has a.

Radon in well water can be released into the air in the home when water is used for showering and other household uses. Normally a higher radon dose is received from inhaling radon compared with ingestion. Radon in soil under homes is the biggest source of radon in indoor air and presents a greater risk of lung cancer than radon in drinking water. Following ingestion of radon dissolved in water the biological half life for removal of radon from the body ranges from 30 to 70 minutes.

Rarely building materials have been found to release radon into buildings. It can also get into your home through well water.