Radon is often defined as a gas that no color, no feel and no smell. It comes from the natural breakdown of uranium in the ground. Exposure to Radon comes in two forms, the first is from the air in your home and the second is in the drinking water. Most Radon found indoors comes from the soil from underneath your home when the uranium breaks down it seeps into the home. When Radon is detected in water it gets there as the gas breaks down and dissolves where it does gather in the water from underground called ground water that comes from wells.
As the Radon infested water is used for bathing, washing clothes, washing dishes and cooking, the water goes into the air where it become inhaled, a portion of Radon still remains in the water itself. You don’t have to worry about Radon in all forms of water, it is safe in rivers, lakes and even reservoirs, and this is called surface water. As we described Radon gets into the air as water evaporates into the air, which we inhale. This is when radon becomes dangerous, the radon breaks down into particles and travels to the lungs.
The percentage of Radon in the air from drinking water is small, only about 2%. Now the water that stays in the water, has a higher risk. People have a better chance of developing cancer in your internal organs such as stomach cancer. The risk of getting lung cancer from the radon in the drinking water is less. According to the National Academy of Science, the Environmental Protection Agency does estimate that Radon found in the drinking water causes roughly 168 deaths every year.
89% comes from the Radon in the air from water and 11% were diagnosed with stomach cancer by people who drank water with Radon. Using a water filter can help reduce those risks. Currently, there are no federal enforced standards for drinking water containing Radon. The EPA has suggested that Radon be regulated in the drinking water by community water suppliers. Though the EPA does not have any regulation authority over well water.
To test for Radon in the water your home gets from public water systems, you will want to find out where the water system does get the water from such as a reservoir, lake or river or though an underground source. If by chance the water comes from an underground source call your water system representative and find out when the last time Radon was checked and asked for the result.
If you have a private well, the EPA does recommend that you test your own drinking water. Call the Safe Drinking Water Hotline 1-800-426-4791 and they will give you phone numbers of state labs that are certified in testing drinking water. Having your water tested, you may incur a cost but it is well worth your health and the health of your family to find out what you are potentially putting into your body.