Radon in Drinking Water

If you live in certain parts of the United States, you might be aware of the threat that radon water poses. Radon water is radioactive, and in tightly insulated houses it can accumulate to concentrations that pose a health threat. If you inhale the radon gas from radon water into your lungs, its decay can increase your chance of getting lung cancer. A study reported in 1990 by the National Safety Council estimated that about 14,000 deaths a year could be attributed to radon, and that the number could range from 7,000 to 30,000.

What is the Health Risk of Radon?

A report released September 15, 1998, by the National Academy of Sciences is the most comprehensive accumulation of scientific data on the public health risks of radon in drinking water.  The report was required by the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA).  The NAS report (BEIR VI) issued earlier this year confirmed that radon is a serious public health threat.  This report goes on to refine the risks of radon in drinking water and confirms that there are drinking water related cancer deaths, primarily due to lung cancer.  The report, in general, confirms earlier EPA scientific conclusions and analyses for drinking water, and presents no major changes to EPA's 1994 risk assessment.

The Office of Ground Water Drinking Water has posted the press release of "Risk Assessment of Radon in Drinking Water".  There is also a link to NAS's Executive Summary on the report (with initial EPA perspectives) at: www.epa.gov/OGWDW/radon/nas.html. 

For general information on radon in drinking water, contact the Safe Drinking Water Hotline, at (800) 426-4791.  The Safe Drinking Water Hotline is open Monday through Friday, excluding Federal holidays, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Eastern Time.