Feeling thirsty?
Where and why radium is a problem What’s the big deal about radium?
In the natural environment, radium is found at low levels in soil, water, rocks, coal, plants and food.
But radium also happens to be radioactive, so even low-level exposure could increase your risk for cancer.
Even though 80 percent of the radium consumed or inhaled will be excreted by the body, the remaining 20 percent will enter the blood stream and travel to all areas of the body, with a portion of that percentage accumulating in the bones, according to an EPA factsheet.
The EWG found radium in all 50 states, with 158 public water systems in 27 states reporting radium in amounts that exceeded the federal legal limit.
California has the most residents impacted by radiation in drinking water, with 64 percent of the population — or 25 million people — affected by the almost 800 systems that reported detectable levels of radium.
More than 3,500 utilities in Texas, which serve more than 22 million people, reported detectable levels of radium Curious to know if the water in your local community is contaminated with radium?
Use this link to access the EWG’s interactive map and plug in your ZIPcode to see the results.
If you get your groundwater from a well, it’s a good idea to get it tested.