Radiation can enter the water supply due to both natural and man-made sources.
Small traces of radioactivity are found in nearly all drinking water, but many people are concerned about the potential dangers of potential pollutants from nuclear energy plants, laboratories, and other sources.
It is not unusual to detect low levels of radioactive isotopes in drinking water. It is not a matter of concern unless the level is higher than expected, usually caused by exposure to rock that contains radionuclides such as radium, thorium and uranium.
While municipal water supplies are regularly tested for these radioactive substances, private wells should be tested regularly for possible radioactive contaminants. There is no other way to determine if your water is radioactive.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) set legal limits called "maximum contaminant levels" or MCLs for radionuclides.
But despite these legal limits, there is no known level at which the amount of these radioactive substances in water is considered safe.
Cancer is considered the main health effect from radiation exposure. When exposed to ionizing radiation, cells can be seriously damaged at the cellular or molecular level by ionizing radiation, which may cause mutations in the DNA or cause the uncontrolled growth of cells, which is the definition of cancer.
If you are concerned about the levels of radioactivity in your water, then you will need to put a treatment plan in place.
In most cases, a combination of treatment methods, including carbon filtration, ion-exchange water softening, and reverse osmosis is most effective.
Call AquaDoctor NJ for assistance. Note that high levels of radiation in water may not be treatable.