ML072150380
| ML072150380 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Oyster Creek |
| Issue date: | 04/30/2004 |
| From: | State of NJ, Dept of Environmental Protection |
| To: | Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| Davis J NRR/DLR/REBB, 415-3835 | |
| References | |
| Download: ML072150380 (5) | |
Text
A South Jersey Homeowner's Guide to Radioactivity in Drinking Water: Radium Radioactive substances in ground water, such as radium, uranium and thoriumn, occur naturally. They are present at least to some extent in almost all rocks and radium, in particular, dissolves more readily into ground water in contact with sands or soils. The acidity of the water, which may be increased by the presence of elevated levels of nitrates associated with agricultural land use, is T jz believed to increase the amount of radium that dissolves into ground water from contact with sands and soils.
Sampling of public and private wells that draw water from _.,k"*
southern New Jersey's Cohansey aquifer has shown elevated levels of naturally occurring radioactivity. The aquifer, sometimes referred to as the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer, is present in all, or parts of Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Monmouth, Ocean and Salem counties (see map at right). Elevated levels of radioactivity most recently were found in',
the area of Dover township, Ocean County, where an ,
investigation is under way into specific childhood cancers in that L area. It is important to note, however, that radioactivity in drinking water, especially at these low concentrations, is not known to cause these types of cancers.
Results from investigations in Dover Township, Ocean County, which used a new testing procedure that detects radiation from short-lived radioactive substances, indicated that elevated levels of radioactivity existed in some area drinking water supplies. Consequently, the N. J. Department of Environmental Protection and the U. S.
Geological Survey conducted studies to better understand the presence of radioactivity in this aquifer. The results of these studies confirmed that Radium 226, 228 and 224 may be found in elevated concentrations in parts of the Cohansey aquifer.
Radioactivity in drinking water is not a new phenomenon, having been present to some extent for thousands of years. Nevertheless, exposure to radium over a longperiod of time is believed to increase one's lifetime risk of developing certain types of cancer.
Therefore, homeowners should be aware of the steps they might wish to take to test their private drinking water wells for radioactivity and to reduce their exposure.
Revised April 2004
What Is Radioactivity And How Is It liters of this water per day for 70 years, we Measured? would expect to see one additional fatal cancer in the 10,000 people exposed.
Radioactive substances are those that are Increased risk of bone cancers has been unstable in nature. Radioactive types of associated with the ingestion of Radium 224 uranium, thorium and radium emit and 228, and bone cancers and cancers of the radiation to reach a more stable condition. head sinuses with Radium 226. This This process is called radioactive decay. By increased risk should be viewed in the measuring the type of radiation emitted, the context of current cancer statistics.
specific energy level or levels of radiation According to the American Cancer Society, and the precise rate of decay, scientists are approximately 4,300 people in 10,000 will able to identify a radioactive substance and develop cancer at some point in their determine how much of it is present. lifetimes, and approximately 2,200 of the Radioactivity is usually. measured in curies 10,000 eventually will die of cancer.
in the United States. The unit typically used Consuming drinking water containing to describe the concentration of radioactivity radioactivity at the maximum level present in drinking water is the picocurie permitted uinder the Safe Drinking Water per liter - one trillionth ofa curie. Act will increase the number of deaths in the 10,000 individuals so exposed by one.
Ilitial water testing to determine the presence of radioactivity measures gross What Is The Procedure For Testing?
alpha activity. Alpha radiation is a type of particle emitted through the decay of certain A gross alpha test is the first step in radioactive substances. Additional testing determining the level of radioactivity in may be required to measure the presence of drinking water. This test serves as a specific types of radium, including Radium preliminary screening device and 226 and Radium 228. An improved testing determines whether additional testing is procedure for gross alpha activity also will advisable. A gross alpha test typically costs reflect the presence of Radium 224, a short- from $75 to $150. If the level is above 5 lived radioactive material. Until recently, it picocuries per liter, then further testing for was not thought to be a problem, and there Radium 226 and 228 is recommended.
is no federal or state standard for Radium Testing for Radium 226 and 228, if 224. However, recent studies in southern indicated, will cost an additional $100 to New Jersey, particularly in the area of Dover $200. A typical water softener costs between Towvn-iship, have shown Radium 224 to be $400 and $600 and offers other benefits present and to account for a number of besides reducing radium le,'els. Therefore, instances of elevated levels of gross alpha homeowners whose gross alpha test exceeds activity. 5 picocuries per liter - the federal and state screening criteria for further testing, may What Are The Risks? decide that it is more cost-effective to seek out water treatment rather than additional The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency tests. If the gross alpha particle activity is (EPA) has estimated that the additional above 15 picocuries per liter, then treatment lifetime risk associated with drinking water is recommended without further testing.
that contains the maximum contaminant Gross alpha particle activity is highest when level for gross alpha or combined Radium analyzed within 48 hours5.555556e-4 days <br />0.0133 hours <br />7.936508e-5 weeks <br />1.8264e-5 months <br /> of sample 226 and 228 is about I in 1.0,000. This means collection, but declines rapidly within the that if 10.000 Dersons were to consume two first 4 days after sample collection. It
gradually levels off after about 7 to 14 days these are not caused by radioactivity. Your following sample collection. Since most local health officer can help you determine private well owners consume water the cause of these problems.
generally no more than a few hours after it has been pumped from the aquifer, they The Private Well Testing Act (PWTA) may be consuming water when its gross alpha activity is tile highest. Results of The Private Well Testing Act requires that recent testing of water from the Kirkwood- certain wells be tested as a condition of each Cohansey aquifer system indicate that when contract for sale of real property. The law a gross alpha particle activity measurement became effective September 14, 2002. This is completed within 48 hours5.555556e-4 days <br />0.0133 hours <br />7.936508e-5 weeks <br />1.8264e-5 months <br />, about one-half rule is being phased in and details are of the samples exceed the EPA gross alpha available at tile NJDEP website:
standard of 15 picocuries per liter. See the hMtli:/i/www.state.n i .us,,dep/pwta" Homeowner's Guide to Uranium in Drinking Water for further information on Please note Ihat for samples lhat are part of a how to treat a uranium in drinking water real estate transaction iinder the PVVTA, the problem. samples are required to be taken, by a firm that is h tt :/vw w qtatC. i. us/depirppirabd wair.htlfl certified by the New lersei DEP's Office of Quality Assurance as a certified collection firti.
Who Should Test? To obtain a cnrreii t list of these firms, call DEP's Office of Qnalitiy Assurance (OQA) at (609)
If your drinking water comes from a public 292-3950.
water supply, your water supplier is required by law to test it to ensure that it How Do I Go About Testing?
meets tile standards for radioactivity. You do not need to test your water. You can get If you are concerned about possible the most recent test results for your water exposure to naturally occurrhig system by contacting your water supplier or radioactivity in your drinking water,. you the DEP Bureau of Safe Drinking Water at obtain your water from a private well in the (609) 292-5550. Given the elevated levels of Cohansey aquifer and do not have a water naturally occurring radioactivity that have softener or other treatment system that been found, tile DEP recommends that removes radium, you should:
private well owners drawing from the Cohansey aquifer test their well water. If Either contact your local health officer to you have your own well, testing your water arrange for testing to be performed at is your responsibility. If you decide to test the state radiological laboratory or your well, the DEP recommends that you contact a DEP-certified commercial use a DEP-certified laboratory. It is very laboratory to arrange for testing. In important that you collect your water either case, the cost of the testing will be sample properly and that you send the approximately $100. If you contact your sample to a laboratory that will analyze it local health officer, he or she will advise within 48 hours5.555556e-4 days <br />0.0133 hours <br />7.936508e-5 weeks <br />1.8264e-5 months <br /> of collection. If the sample is you of what steps to take. Remembler that not analyzed within that time, it is unlikely samples for a real estate transaction under that the results will reflect short-lived the PWTA must ibetaken by a DEP certified Radium 224 if it is present. If you have collection .firm. If you contact a questions about testing or your results, commercial laboratory and you are contact your local health officer. If your taking the sample for your own benefit, water has color, odor, or taste problems, be sure to advise the laboratory that
your sample must be counted within 48
- Modify your well or drill a new well so hours of collection and make that water is obtained from another, arrangements to get the sample to the deeper aquifer that has been tested or laboratory either in person or through can be tested to show that its an overnight mail service. The radioactivity levels are acceptable.
laboratory may provide you with a container or may wrant you to furnish
- Purchase bottled water for drinking and one of your own. Make certain that the food consumption. While this option laboratory is aware of the 48-hour time may be useful in the short term, it requirement and when you will be generally will not be cost effective in the sending in your sample. long term.
- 2. Take your sample from the cold water The DEP recommends the tap closest to your storage tank after the following actions for water system has been purged of the homeowners who test and are water in storage so that you are concerned about radioactivity in obtaining water directly from the well. their drinking water:
- 3. Send your sample to the laboratory and await your result.
- If testing shows that gross
- 4. Follow the recommendations below to alpha activity is greater than determine wvhether fuirther testing or 15 picocuries per liter, water water treatment is advisable. treatment is recommended.
- If gross alpha activity is How Can I Reduce Radioactivity? greater than 5 but less than 15 picocuries per liter, You can reduce radioactivity in your testing for Radium 226 and drinking water by selecting one of the Radium 228 is advised. If the following options: combined radium levels are above 5 picocuries per liter,
" Hook up to a municipal water system if water treatment is this option is available. recommended. Alternatively, a homeowner may evaluate
" Install a water softener or ion exchange the additional cost of radium water treatment system (known as a testing and determine point-of-entry system). whether it is better simply to proceed to water treatment.
- For the average home, this is usually the " If gross alpha activity is less most feasible and cost effective method than 5 picocuries per liter, of reducing radioactivity in drinking no further action is required.
water.
- Install a point of use (e.g., at the kitchen sink) ion exchange or reverse osmosis Homeowners using water softeners, ion water treatment system and use this exchange units or reverse osmosis units water for drinking and food preparation. should maintain them according to the manufacturer's directions. If you are currently using an activated carbon system to treat your well water, and your gross alpha results indicate that treatment is 4
necessary, then the treatment system for gross alpha should be placed before the carbon filter. This is to prevent possible accumulation of radioactivity on the carbon bed. For further information on all such units, contact your local health officer to determine which type is best for your home and water quality situation before installing a radioactivity removal system. (Ask if a local health department permit is required.) If you install a water treatment system, conduct another gross alpha test after the installation to verify that the system is working effectively to reduce radioactivity to an acceptable level.
Who Is Certified To Test?
To get the most current information on the certification status of laboratories, call DEP's Office of Quality Assurance (OQA) at (609) 292-3950. The OQA will be able to provide you with a list of laboratories which are currently certified to perform gross alpha and radium analyses.
This guide is also available on the DEP's Radiation Protection and Release Prevention Programs' web site at http:i/xwww:sta te.n J.usldep/rjp/ra dwa ter. htni 5