Re: Radium in water supplies

["Clarence Dittman" <Clarence.Dittman@tdh.state.tx.us>]

What does the US Geological survey (Agency?) define as "unsafe levels"
 of Ra-226 in water?  Do "they" have any radiation experts on their staff, and 
what are their qualifications?  There is nothing "recent" about the discovery of 
Radium in drinking water.  In Texas most water supply systems (and all major 
suppliers) are sampled monthly.  In addition to the tests for biological 
contamination, the samples are tested for mineral content ( lead,  zinc, and 
other heavy metals ) including Radium.  It took eight years to perform this 
study, and only now are we hearing about this "major hazard"?

Opinions expressed are personel only...


Date sent:      	Mon, 10 Aug 1998 12:17:23 -0500 (CDT)
Send reply to:  	radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu
From:           	goldinem@songs.sce.com
To:             	Multiple recipients of list <radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu>
Subject:        	Radium in water supplies

> 
>      I'm sure there will be some opinions on this recently found major 
>      hazard.  I certainly have mine.   
>      Eric Goldin   <goldinem@songs.sce.com>
>      
>      Unsafe Levels of Radium Taint Water
>      From Times Wire Reports
>      
>      Federal scientists have found unsafe levels of cancer-causing 
>      radium in the major source for drinking water for hundreds of 
>      thousands of people in southern New Jersey, the Philadelphia 
>      Inquirer has reported. An eight-year study by the U.S.    
>      Geological survey found 33% of the private wells tested between 
>      1989 and 1996 in six southern New Jersey counties had unsafe 
>      levels of radium. In the more heavily developed areas of those 
>      counties, the unhealthy levels were found in 65% of the water 
>      supplies tested. The radium-tainted water is in the 
>      Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer, which supplies water to about 200,000 
>      private wells used by an estimated 500,000 people, the paper 
>      said.
>      
>      Copyright 1998 Los Angeles Times. All Rights Reserved
> 
> 
> ************************************************************************
> The RADSAFE Frequently Asked Questions list, archives and subscription
> information can be accessed at http://www.ehs.uiuc.edu/~rad/radsafe.html


Clarence W. Dittman, Health Physicist
Radiation Control Program Manager
Texas Department of Health
Public Health Region 7
2408 South 37th Street
Temple, Texas 76504-7168
(254) 778-6744
Fax (254) 778-4066
Clarence.Dittman@tdh.state.tx.us
************************************************************************
The RADSAFE Frequently Asked Questions list, archives and subscription
information can be accessed at http://www.ehs.uiuc.edu/~rad/radsafe.html