Radioactivity in drinking water

Technical Report · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1981

OSTI ID:5716470

Cothern, C R

This general overview is designed to assist those involved with public health and drinking water to better understand, interpret and implement EPA's regulation for radioactivity in drinking water. In this presentation the general nuclear properties are shown using naturally occurring isotopes such as radium, radon and uranium as examples. The units of radio-activity (curie, rad and rem) are explained and demonstrated in describing natural radiation; in our surroundings and bodies as well as man-made radiation from medical x-rays, TV, fallout, industrial uses and nuclear power plants and other sources. The health effects discussed include birth defects, genetic damage, cancers, leukemias and others. Several specific examples are given in each disease area as well as their relative importance or rate of occurrence. The risk (in deaths/million people exposed/yr) is tabulated for radioactivity and compared to several other cases including disease, accidents and weather. Possible methods for reducing the radioactivity in drinking water are described. Flow charts are provided that show how to interpret the radiation regulations for drinking water.

• Research Organization: Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC (USA). Office of Drinking Water
• OSTI ID: 5716470
• Report Number(s): PB-81-192833
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

520301* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- Water-- (1987)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
552000 -- Public Health
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
DRINKING WATER
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PUBLIC HEALTH
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATION HAZARDS
RADIOACTIVITY
REGULATIONS
WATER