Estimating the health risks of radon in drinking water

Journal Article · Wed Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1987 · J., Am. Water Works Assoc.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5505365

Cothern, C R

By combining information about the occurrence, transport, exposure, and health effects of radon in drinking water, it has been estimated that over a period of 70 years (the average lifetime in the United States), between 2000 and 40,000 lung cancer fatalities are caused by inhalation of natural radon released from US public water supplies. The average concentration of radon in these water supplies generates a lifetime risk of about 1 in 10,000, the highest level of risk allowed for any contaminant currently regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act. Reducing the levels of radon in drinking water, which would significantly lessen the risks to health, has been found to be feasible by either aeration or treatment with granular activated carbon.

• OSTI ID: 5505365
• Journal Information: J., Am. Water Works Assoc.; (United States), Journal Name: J., Am. Water Works Assoc.; (United States) Vol. 79:4; ISSN JAWWA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

520300 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- (1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
560161* -- Radionuclide Effects
Kinetics
& Toxicology-- Man
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ACTIVATED CARBON
ADSORBENTS
AERATION
BODY
CARBON
CONTROL
DISEASES
DRINKING WATER
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
FLUIDS
GASES
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INHALATION
INTAKE
LUNGS
MASS TRANSFER
NEOPLASMS
NONMETALS
ORGANS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION CONTROL
POLLUTION REGULATIONS
RADIOECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
RADON
RARE GASES
REGULATIONS
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
RISK ASSESSMENT
SAFETY STANDARDS
STANDARDS
WATER
WATER POLLUTION CONTROL
WATER SUPPLY
WATER TREATMENT