Radon In Well Water Effects

Research indicates there is an increased risk of lung cancer associated with long term exposure to elevated radon levels.

Radon in well water effects.

Water from wells usually has higher concentrations of radon than does surface water such as lakes and streams. The effects of radon if found in food or drinking water are unknown. 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. It can also get into your home through well water.

High levels of dissolved radon are found in the groundwater in some areas flowing through granite or granitic sand and gravel formations. Radon exposure can happen in any type of home whether it has a. 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. However breathing radon increases the risk of lung cancer over the course of your lifetime.

Based on the potential for cancer the epa suggests that indoor air should not exceed 4 picocuries per liter pci l. Drinking water containing radon also presents a risk of developing internal organ cancers primarily stomach cancer. 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. Rarely building materials have been found to release radon into buildings.

Currently there is no federally enforced drinking water standard for radon. Radon is also found in ground water tapped by wells which supply about half the drinking water in the united states. What are the health effects associated with radon. Only about 1 2 percent of radon in the air comes from drinking water.

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. Ground water moves through rock containing natural uranium that releases radon into the water. Some radon stays in the water.

Radon in well water can be released into the air in the home when water is used for showering and other household uses. Radon dissolved in drinking water can be released into indoor air.