Is it safe to drink water with radon?
However breathing radon increases the risk of lung cancer over the course of your lifetime. Some radon stays in the water; drinking water containing radon also presents a risk of developing internal organ cancers, primarily stomach cancer.
How do you get radon out of drinking water?
Aeration – Because radon is a gas, it is possible to remove it from the water by simply blowing air through the water and pushing the resulting vapor out away from the home – typically through a pipe on the roof. Usually, these aeration systems work by having an air source at the bottom of a water storage tank.
Do water filters filter out radon?
Aeration treatment requires spraying water or mixing it with air, and then venting the air from the water before use. GAC treatment filters water through carbon. Radon attaches to the carbon and leaves the water free of radon.
What is an unhealthy amount of radon?
Levels of 4 pCi/L or higher are considered hazardous. Radon levels less than 4 pCi/L still pose a risk and in many cases can be reduced, although it is difficult to reduce levels below 2 pCi/L. The EPA estimates that a radon removal system costs about $1,200 for an average house.
Does a Brita filter remove radon?
Brita pitcher filters are not certified to reduce uranium, radon, radium, or other radionuclides in drinking water. Activated carbon is capable of treating radon, but the Brita website does not suggest that its pitcher filters effectively reduce radon concentrations.
Will Reverse Osmosis remove radon from water?
Reverse osmosis does not remove gaseous contaminants such as carbon dioxide and radon.
Can you shower in water with radon?
Radon in Water Radon usually does not occur in significant concentrations in surface waters. Dissolved radon in groundwater will escape into indoor air during showering, laundering, and dishwashing. Estimates are that indoor air concentrations increase by approximately 1 pCi/L for every 10,000 pCi/L in water.
Can a HEPA filter reduce radon?
While HEPA or other high efficiency filtration can be used to remove particulates and reduce radon progeny in the air, it does not affect the radon gas concentration and therefore radon progeny will continue to be produced in the ambient air.
Does radon dissolve in water?
When the ground produces radon, it can dissolve and accumulate in water from underground sources (called ground water), such as wells. When water that contains radon is run for showering, washing dishes, cooking, and other uses, radon gas escapes from the water and goes into the air. Some radon also stays in the water.
How quickly can radon affect you?
Radon gas can damage cells in your lungs, which can lead to cancer. Radon is responsible for about 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year in the United States, though it usually takes 5 to 25 years to develop. Early signs and symptoms of lung cancer may include: persistent cough.
How common is radon poisoning?
Exposure to radon accounts for about 21,000 deaths from lung cancer each year according to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). While that is nowhere near the 480,000 deaths a year caused by smoking, it's still significant. And it's the leading cause of lung cancer in people who don't smoke.
How much exposure to radon is too much?
According to the EPA, the average indoor radon level is about 1.3 picocuries per liter (pCi/L). People should take action to lower radon levels in the home if the level is 4.0 pCi/L or higher.
How do you neutralize radiation in water?
Water can be filtered to remove different types of radiation, with the two recognised ways of treating contaminated water being reverse osmosis and ion exchange.
Does a refrigerator water filter remove radium?
If you're looking to filter out contaminants such as arsenic, fluoride, nitrate and radium, you're out of luck with your refrigerator filter. And although some carbon filters are effective, a Reverse Osmosis Filter take care of the contaminants previously mentioned, and more.
Does bottled water have radon?
This exemption refers both to bottled and not-bottled mineral waters. As regards to bottled waters, population exposure to radon concentration in such waters is usually low because radon half-life is much shorter than the typical time needed by bottled waters to reach consumers' houses.
How to know if you have radon in your water?
Testing is the only way to know if radon is in your drinking water. The Health Department has set an advisory level for radon in water of 4,000 pCi/L (picocuries per liter) and recommends the following: If the result of the radon in water test is less than 4,000 pCi/L, you do not need to treat your water, but test your water again in five years. ...
What happens if you smoke radon?
The major danger posed by radon in water is the risk of lung cancer when radon escapes from the water and is breathed in. If you smoke and your home has high levels of radon, your risk of getting lung cancer is especially high. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that 86% of radon-related lung-cancer deaths occur ...
What is the best way to reduce radon in water?
Re-test for radon after any treatment system is installed to make sure levels are below the advisory level. Aeration System . An aeration system uses a fan to reduce radon in water.
What is the most common source of radon in a home?
Soil is the most common source of radon in your home. Well water that contains radon may increase the level of radon in a home. Activities — like taking showers, doing laundry, or running the dishwasher — can release radon into the air.
What is neighborworks alliance?
The NeighborWorks Alliance is made up of five local organizations offering full affordable housing services for income-eligible individuals. You may qualify for help from this program if you need money to install a water treatment system, drill a well, or repair or replace your septic system.
How to find out if your property is in an eligible area?
For more information or to find out if your property is in an eligible area, call the USDA Rural Development Office at 802-828-6022.
What is a Vermont water loan?
This program, also known as the On-Site Loan Program , is available to certain Vermont residents for the repair or replacement of failed water supply and on-site wastewater systems. The On-Site Loan Program is funded and administered by the Agency of Natural Resources, Department of Environmental Conservation with loan underwriting and servicing provided by the Opportunities Credit Union in Winooski. Your drinking water supply has to be a failed system and you must be living in the residence on a year-round basis to be eligible. The family income cannot exceed 200% of the state median household income. For more information about eligibility and how to apply, call the On-Site Loan Program at 802-461-6051.
What is the EPA's responsibility for radon?
The federal Safe Drinking Water Act, as amended in 1996, required the EPA to establish a maximum contaminant level in drinking water accompanied by a multimedia mitigation program to address radon risks in indoor air.
What is the EPA recommended radon level?
There is uncertainty about the magnitude of the health risk associated with radon. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has used a guideline of 4 pCi/L as the action level for indoor radon concentrations. EPA recommends lowering levels to 2 pCi/L whenever possible.
How does radon affect lung function?
Research indicates there is an increased risk of lung cancer associated with long-term exposure to elevated radon levels. Not everyone exposed to elevated radon levels will develop lung cancer; however, chances of getting lung cancer from radon are associated with: 1 How much radon is in the home; 2 The amount of time that is spent in the home; 3 Whether a person is a smoker or has ever smoked; 4 Differences between people's susceptibility; and 5 The amount of ventilation in the home, particularly the bathroom.
How much radon is in water?
Some researchers have estimated that 1 pCi/L of airborne radon will result from the normal use of a water supply containing 10,000 pCi/L. This number is only an average and subject to variation. The amount of radon transferred from water to air is a function of:
What happens to the temperature of water and air as the temperature of the water increases?
The water and air temperatures (as the temperature of the water increases, radon transfer increases).
Can radon be released into the air?
cracks in walls, crawl spaces, and, in some cases, from well water. Radon in well water can be released into the air in the home when water is used for showering and other household uses .
Does drinking water contain radon?
The concern with radon in drinking water does not come from drinking it, but is primarily associated with showering, laundry and other household uses that transfer radon to indoor air. Radon entering the home through soil is generally recognized as the largest source of radon in homes. Health risks from drinking water containing radon are believed ...
What is the radon level in drinking water?
Based on its own risk estimates, EPA proposed in 1991 that the standard for radon in drinking water -- known as the maximum contaminant level -- should be set at 11 becquerel per liter. A becquerel is a unit by which radiation is measured.
What is the purpose of the alternative standard?
The purpose of the alternative standard is to provide methods for reducing health risks by ensuring that radon expelled from household water uses will not raise levels of radon in indoor air to above that found naturally outdoors .
Why was the risk estimate different?
The committee's risk estimates were different because it developed new models with updated biological data on the cancer-causing effects of ingesting radon. The committee also drew upon findings of a recent Research Council report on health risks posed by radon in air. Radon is a gas produced from the radioactive decay of uranium ...
Where does radon enter the body?
However, once radon has entered the bloodstream through the stomach or small intestine, it is typically eliminated from the body through the lungs and will not target other organs. Conversely, the committee's estimates of risks posed by inhaling radon released from water are higher than EPA's.
How many people die from stomach cancer each year?
The committee estimated that about 20 of the 13,000 stomach cancer deaths each year may result from consuming water that contains radon. No evidence suggests that radon causes any reproductive problems or birth defects, regardless of whether it is ingested or inhaled.
Where does radon come from?
Radon is a gas produced from the radioactive decay of uranium that occurs naturally in rocks and soil. Although radon is chemically inert and electrically uncharged, it also is radioactive, which means that radon atoms can spontaneously decay and might damage cells when inhaled or ingested.
Where is radon found in the air?
Outside air contains very low levels of radon, but indoors the gas builds to higher concentrations. Radon is also found in ground water tapped by wells, which supply about half the drinking water in the United States. Ground water moves through rock containing natural uranium that releases radon into the water.
What are the Water Sources?
Water can contain radon depending on where it is derived. It can be from surface water or groundwater. Households get their water from either of the two water sources.
How to Remove Radon From Water?
There are two ways to get rid of it. You can choose from GAC filters and aeration devices .
How does an aeration system work?
If the column is high enough, removal efficiencies can reach 95%. A final aeration system uses a shallow tray to contact air and water. Water is sprayed into the tray, and then flows over the tray as air is sprayed up through tiny holes in the tray bottom. The system removes more than 99.9% of the radon and vents it outside the home.
How much does aeration cost?
With new technological advancements in home aeration, these units can have radon removal efficiencies of up to 99.9%. Standard aeration treatment units typically cost $3,000 to $5,000 including installation.
Why do you need to pre-treatment water?
Water with high levels of these types of contaminants may need to be pre-treated in order to prevent clogging the aeration unit. Disinfection equipment may also be recommended since some aeration units can allow bacterial contamination into the water system. Figure 2: Radon Removal with a home spray aeration system.
How much radon is in water?
EPA and various states have recommended drinking water standards for radon in water ranging from 300 to 10,000 pCi/L but no standard currently exists. One study of radon in over 900 Pennsylvania water wells found that 78% exceeded 300 pCi/L, 52% exceeded 1,000 pCi/L and 10% exceeded 5,000 pCi/L.
How much does a GAC system cost?
Typical water use in the home ranges from 50 to 100 gallons per person per day. Standard GAC treatment systems typically cost about $2,000 including professional installation.
How much does it cost to test for radon in water?
Testing for radon in water is also inexpensive (generally $25 to $50) but requires special sampling and laboratory analysis techniques that measure its presence before it escapes from the sample. Test kits are available from various private testing labs. Contact the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP), Radon Division at 800-237-2366 for a list of labs. Carefully follow the lab instructions when collecting your water sample to ensure accurate results.
How many people die from radon in water?
The National Research Council's report, Risk Assessment of Radon in Drinking Water, estimates that radon in drinking water causes about 160 cancer deaths per year due to inhalation and 20 stomach cancer deaths per year due to ingestion.
What is radon?
Radon is a radioactive gas that has no smell, colour or taste. Radon is produced from the natural radioactive decay of uranium, which is found in all rocks and soils. Radon can also be found in water.
How to reduce radon levels in a building?
Some common ways of reducing radon levels in existing buildings include: 1 increasing under-floor ventilation; 2 installing a radon sump system in the basement or under a solid floor; 3 avoiding the passage of radon from the basement into living spaces; 4 sealing floors and walls; and 5 improving the ventilation of the building, especially in the context of energy conservation.
Why is lung cancer risk higher for smokers?
Lung cancer risk is higher for smokers due to synergistic effects of radon and cigarette smoking.
What is the leading cause of lung cancer?
Radon is one of the leading causes of lung cancer.
How much of the lung cancer is caused by radon?
It is estimated that radon causes between 3% to 14% of all lung cancers in a country, depending on the national average radon level and the smoking prevalence. An increased rate of lung cancer was first seen in uranium miners exposed to very high concentrations of radon.
How long does radon stay in the air?
Because of these fluctuations, it is preferable to estimate the annual mean concentration of radon in indoor air by measurements for at least 3 months.
What is the average radon level?
The average outdoor radon level 1 varies from 5 Bq/m 3 to 15 Bq/m 3. However, radon concentrations are higher indoors and in areas with minimal ventilation, with highest levels found in places like mines, caves and water treatment facilities. In buildings such as homes, schools, offices, radon levels can vary substantially from 10 Bq/m 3 ...
How to remove radon from water?
Whole house treatment, also known as pointof- entry treatment, is the most effective way to remove radon from your water. Aeration and granular activated carbon filters are the two types of treatment options for radon removal in water. Radon gas can be easily removed from drinking water by the process known as aeration.
What is the largest percentage of radon in the average home?
Although there are some exceptions, in general, the migration of radon up from the soil contributes the largest percent of radon found in the average home. Radon from a groundwater water supply source, particularly a bedrock well, contributes the next largest percentage of radon in the home. !e radon contributed from building materials is typically very small.
How does radon affect the air in a home?
As radon escapes from water it raises the radon level of the air within a building. The “radon transfer ratio” predicts the increased radon level of indoor air in a home due to the off-gassing of radon from the water. The transfer ratio can vary widely from one home to another. On average, this transfer ratio predicts that 10,000 pCi/L (picocuries per liter of air) of radon in water can be expected to increase the overall annual average radon concentration of the air in a conventional single family home by approximately 1 pCi/L. To illustrate this conversion assume the following example: if the radon in water concentration was 5,000 pCi/L, and the radon in the air measure was 3 pCi/L, then 0.5 pCi/L of the airborne radon would likely be attributed to the water and the remaining 2.5 pCi/L would be attributed to radon gas migration up from the soil through the home’s foundation. It is important to note that this ratio is an approximation and may vary widely from home to home.
What minerals are dissolved in drinking water?
In addition to radon gas, other radioactive minerals such as radium and uranium may be dissolved in drinking water. A test of drinking water for radon gas does not provide meaningful knowledge concerning the presence or absence of any other mineral radionuclides, nor does an elevated level for these dissolved minerals imply the presence of an excessive amount of radon gas. In other words, a minimum of three different laboratory tests are necessary to make an initial assessment of the radioactivity level of a particular well. !ese tests are:
How does radon get into a house?
The most common way is radon moving from the soil into the basement through cracks and other openings in the foundation and being released into the air. Homes that are built over bedrock containing radioactive materials are most susceptible to this. Sump pumps can also be a pathway for radon gas to enter the home.
How to get rid of radon in the air?
Treatment Options for Air. The most common removal method for radon in indoor air is soil-gas ventilation, which draws radon gas away from the foundation of the house. You can also use a preventative measure such as sealing off potential gas entryways (cracks in walls and floors) to help keep radon out.
What are the long term effects of exposure to radon?
The long-term health effect of exposure to elevated radon levels in indoor air is the increased risk of lung cancer. Radon gas in indoor air is the second leading cause of lung cancer.
