Radon In Well Water Effects

Radon is also found in ground water tapped by wells which supply about half the drinking water in the united states.

Radon in well water effects.

Normally a higher radon dose is received from inhaling radon compared with ingestion. Rarely building materials have been found to release radon into buildings. Water from wells usually has higher concentrations of radon than does surface water such as lakes and streams. However breathing radon increases the risk of lung cancer over the course of your lifetime.

What are the health effects associated with radon. Drinking water containing radon also presents a risk of developing internal organ cancers primarily stomach cancer. Based on the potential for cancer the epa suggests that indoor air should not exceed 4 picocuries per liter pci l. Only about 1 2 percent of radon in the air comes from drinking water.

Radon exposure can happen in any type of home whether it has a. 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. Following ingestion of radon dissolved in water the biological half life for removal of radon from the body ranges from 30 to 70 minutes.

High levels of dissolved radon are found in the groundwater in some areas flowing through granite or granitic sand and gravel formations. Research indicates there is an increased risk of lung cancer associated with long term exposure to elevated radon levels. Radon in well water can be released into the air in the home when water is used for showering and other household uses. Currently there is no federally enforced drinking water standard for radon.

It can also get into your home through well water. 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. Some radon stays in the water. 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.

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. The effects of radon if found in food or drinking water are unknown.